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Teaching Intellectual Autonomy: The Failure of the Critical Thinking Movement
Author(s) -
Kaplan Laura Duhan
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
educational theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1741-5446
pISSN - 0013-2004
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-5446.1991.00361.x
Subject(s) - citation , autonomy , critical thinking , movement (music) , sociology , philosophy of education , library science , pedagogy , higher education , computer science , law , philosophy , political science , aesthetics
The currently popular courses in critical thinking offered at the college level are advertised as courses that prepare students for the the intellectual autonomy required for political autonomy. However, according to the criteria set forth by the critical pedagogy movement, the critical thinking course tends to teach political conformity rather than political autonomy. Against the expressed intention of teachers and textbook authors, critical thinking courses may encourage students to accept without question certain political perspectives and discourage students from asking questions about the genesis of these perspectives.