The Philosophy of Mathematics Education
The ethical Relativist position
Just as the greatest number of personal philosophies are compatible with Relativism, so too there are different ethical outlooks which fit with Relativism. This position simply requires a consistent, principled set of values, coupled with acknowledgement of the legitimacy of alternatives. Thus to develop a theory of the aims of mathematics education, it is necessary to consider a number of sets of values, on a principled basis.
To complement the perry theory it is appropriate to seek a psychological theory of ethicsH. The best known is Kohlberg’s (1969, 1981) theory of moral stages. owever he has been criticized for being selective or biased in his choice of ultimate moral values. His major critic Gilligan (1982) distinguishes two sets of moral values, separated and connected values, supplementing those offered by Kohlberg. Belenky et al. (1985,1986) apply these sets of values to the perry theory, as well as a synthesis, resulting in a third set. Fcr inclusiveness I shall adopt all three sets of values, as each is consistent with Relativism.
The moral frameworks distinguished by Gilligan (1982) are briefly as follows. The separated perspective focuses on rules and principles, and objectifies areas of concern and objects of knowledge. Moral reasoning is typically based on ‘blind justice’, the impartial application of the rules of justice without concern for human issues. Such a perspective is said to be part of the cultural definition of masculinity.
In contrast, the connected moral perspective is concerned with human connections, with relationships, empathy and caring, with the human dimensions of situations. This view relates to the stereotypical ‘feminine’ role, to relate, nurture, and also to comfort and protect (socially constructed as this role may be).
These moral perspectives will be combined with Relativism, with which they are consistent. However they will not simply be regarded as sets of values. As in the proposals of Belenky et al. (1986), the perspectives are considered to relate to intellectual as well as ethical development. The justification for this is that the Perry theory treats both epistemological and ethical positions as forming an integrated whole.
Belenky et al. (1986) propose a further epistemological and ethical position, representing a synthesis of separated and connected values, together with an epistemological approach. They term this ‘constructed knowing’, which integrates the connected and separated ‘voices’. Although an integrated epistemological and ethical position, we can isolate the ethical values involved (although Belenky et al. do not do this). These values combine concerns with justice and structure (separated values) with caring and human connection (connected values). The synthesis includes values concerning social justice and social structures which are liberatory and nurture the realization of individual human potential. The set of values comprises social justice, equality and human fellowship. These are largely connected values (especially fellowship, and the social aspect of social justice), but also include elements of separateness (equality, and the justice aspect of social justice).4
Each of the three sets of values provides a principled basis for moral reasoning. Thus each is consistent with Relativism, and can be combined with an appropriate philosophy of mathematics and epistemology to give an overall ideological perspective
The Philosophy of Mathematics Education
The ethical Relativist position
Just as the greatest number of personal philosophies are compatible with Relativism, so too there are different ethical outlooks which fit with Relativism. This position simply requires a consistent, principled set of values, coupled with acknowledgement of the legitimacy of alternatives. Thus to develop a theory of the aims of mathematics education, it is necessary to consider a number of sets of values, on a principled basis.
To complement the perry theory it is appropriate to seek a psychological theory of ethicsH. The best known is Kohlberg’s (1969, 1981) theory of moral stages. owever he has been criticized for being selective or biased in his choice of ultimate moral values. His major critic Gilligan (1982) distinguishes two sets of moral values, separated and connected values, supplementing those offered by Kohlberg. Belenky et al. (1985,1986) apply these sets of values to the perry theory, as well as a synthesis, resulting in a third set. Fcr inclusiveness I shall adopt all three sets of values, as each is consistent with Relativism.
The moral frameworks distinguished by Gilligan (1982) are briefly as follows. The separated perspective focuses on rules and principles, and objectifies areas of concern and objects of knowledge. Moral reasoning is typically based on ‘blind justice’, the impartial application of the rules of justice without concern for human issues. Such a perspective is said to be part of the cultural definition of masculinity.
In contrast, the connected moral perspective is concerned with human connections, with relationships, empathy and caring, with the human dimensions of situations. This view relates to the stereotypical ‘feminine’ role, to relate, nurture, and also to comfort and protect (socially constructed as this role may be).
These moral perspectives will be combined with Relativism, with which they are consistent. However they will not simply be regarded as sets of values. As in the proposals of Belenky et al. (1986), the perspectives are considered to relate to intellectual as well as ethical development. The justification for this is that the Perry theory treats both epistemological and ethical positions as forming an integrated whole.
Belenky et al. (1986) propose a further epistemological and ethical position, representing a synthesis of separated and connected values, together with an epistemological approach. They term this ‘constructed knowing’, which integrates the connected and separated ‘voices’. Although an integrated epistemological and ethical position, we can isolate the ethical values involved (although Belenky et al. do not do this). These values combine concerns with justice and structure (separated values) with caring and human connection (connected values). The synthesis includes values concerning social justice and social structures which are liberatory and nurture the realization of individual human potential. The set of values comprises social justice, equality and human fellowship. These are largely connected values (especially fellowship, and the social aspect of social justice), but also include elements of separateness (equality, and the justice aspect of social justice).4
Each of the three sets of values provides a principled basis for moral reasoning. Thus each is consistent with Relativism, and can be combined with an appropriate philosophy of mathematics and epistemology to give an overall ideological perspective
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