Thus Hirst, in keeping with both a systems view of the curriculum and behaviourist psychology, sees aims and objectives in technical and normative terms. That is they are a means to rational curriculum design, a means of specifying what the curriculum should be. This is a widespread view throughout the literature on curriculum theory, which has been described as assuming a static society, lack of conflict, and ‘the end of ideology’ (Inglis, 1975, page 37).