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The Economic Aims of Education
Author(s) -
Winch Christopher
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of philosophy of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.501
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-9752
pISSN - 0309-8249
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9752.00262
Subject(s) - prosperity , vocational education , philosophy of education , sociology , positive economics , psychology , economic growth , higher education , pedagogy , economics
This article explains and defends the idea that economic aims of education are as legitimate as any other, particularly liberal, aims. A particular conception of education is developed, which involves a significant vocational aspect, with two aims: individual fulfilment through employment and social well‐being through economic prosperity. This account is to be contrasted both with training, which may be an essential component of education but which is not to be identified with it, and also with instrumental forms of vocational education that do not take into account the need for satisfaction in the workplace. This conception is defended against various possible objections.