Thomas Jefferson's Philosophy of Education

Thomas Jefferson had a profoundly advanced educational vision that went hand in hand with his political philosophy - each of which served the goal of human flourishing. His republicanism marked a break with the conservatism of traditional non-representative governments, characterized by birth and wealth and in neglect of the wants and needs of the people. Instead, Jefferson proposed social reforms which would allow people to express themselves freely, dictate their own course in life, and oversee their elected representatives. His educational vision aimed to instantiate a progressive social climate only dreamed of by utopists such as Thomas More, James Harrington and Louis-Sébastian Mercier.
This book offers a critical articulation of the philosophy behind Jefferson's thoughts on education. Divided into three parts, chapters include an analysis of his views on elementary and higher education, an investigation of education for both the moral-sense and rational faculty, and an examination of education as lifelong learning. Jefferson's educational rationale was economic, political and philosophical, and his systemic approach to education conveys a systemic, economic approach to living, with strong affinities to Stoicism.
Thomas Jefferson's Philosophy of Education will be key reading for philosophers, historians and postgraduate students of education, the history of education and philosophy.

M. Andrew Holowchak, Ph.D. is a professor of philosophy and history, and editor of 'The Journal of Thomas Jefferson's Life and Times.' He is author/editor of over 65 books and over 270 published essays on topics such as ethics, ancient philosophy, science, psychoanalysis, and critical thinking. His current research is on Thomas Jefferson-he is acknowledged by many scholars to be the world's foremost authority on the thinking of Jefferson-and has published 27 books and over 200 essays on Jefferson. Like Jefferson, he has a passion for "putting up and pulling down," but his putting up and pulling down is not architectural, but done on a landscape or in a garden. He also enjoys lifting weights, bike riding, conferencing, and talking about Thomas Jefferson.

Part 1: The Laborers and the Learned A Crusade Against Ignorance: Educating the General Citizenry. A Dialog between Ancients and Moderns: Creating a Natural Aristocracy Part 2: The Heart and the Head Fixing the Principles and Practices of Virtue: Educating the Heart. I Feel: Therefore I Exist: Educating the Head Part 3: Lifelong Education An Education Directed to Freedom and Happiness: The Usefulness of "American" Education. A Heart at Ease Flies to No Extremes: Life as a Sentimental Journey.