Moral Problems of Contemporary Society

Moral Problems of Contemporary Society

• Equal opportunity in education is the focus of this week's lecture.
• The lecture questions the sufficiency of equal opportunity.
• Walzer's theory divides education into democratic and specialized schools.
• The lecture analyzes potential blind spots in Walzer's account.
• The role of private schools in education is discussed.
• Diversity in education, and alternative and opposing viewpoints on educational structures, are discussed.

Conventional Wisdom: Equal Opportunity

• Rawls's second principle of justice addresses social and economic inequalities.
• Fair equality of opportunity is explained.
• The interpretation of equality of opportunity is further defined.
• Rawls distinguishes fair equality of opportunity from "careers open to talents."
• Walzer's views in his work “Spheres of Justice” are referenced as being more complex.

Walzer’s Larger Project: Spheres of Justice

• Walzer defines a "good dominant" as a good that controls other goods.
• Monopolization of goods (e.g., power and value) by a single person or a group.
• Walzer's remedy is "complex equality."

Schools as Institutions Between Family and State

• Autonomous schools mediate between families and the state.
• Compulsory education eliminates tension between these entities.
• The family and social hierarchies profoundly affect individuals.
• This is related to Rawls's views on the family and its influence on equality of opportunity
• There are tensions among different educational priorities, referencing Gutman.

The Democratic School

• Inclusive teaching about society is crucial for democratic functioning.
• The principle of equality applies to universal schooling.
• The aim of education is to postpone differences to allow for broader citizenship learning. Children should be citizens first, with professional roles coming afterward.
• Educational goals are not just about equal chances, but also about equal results.

Specialized Schools

• Initially, equality is important in education.
• However, once basic skills are mastered, education must be adapted to specific student talents and capacities.
• The success of basic education drives up the competition for specialized schools.

Where to Draw the Line

• Determining the optimal time to shift from general education to specialized training for different social roles.
• Country-to-country differences in this educational approach.
• This process involves deciding at what age a distinction in educational purpose should be made.
• The lecture prompts reflection on individual perspectives for that demarcation.

A Blind Spot in Walzer's Account

• An argument about the non-preparatory dimensions of justice in education is discussed
• Childhood offers unique opportunities for growth and flourishing, like play and imagination
• Schools can aid in providing childhood development by allowing for play and special types of well-being that should be preserved if possible.
• The critical analysis defends equal access for children to various developmental stages.

Public Policy on Private Schools

• The permissibility and implications of private schools are debated.
• Answers on this matter may or may not vary based on particular circumstances.
• The potential hypocrisy of favoring laws against private schooling while choosing private schools for one's own children.

Social Privilege Beyond the School

• Elite college preparations and high costs of pre-college support services are explored.
• Parents’ financial support for their children’s education beyond standard school offerings is discussed.
• The example of IvyWise’s college admission preparation services is analyzed and related to broader social opportunities.

The Importance of Diversity

• The principle of association emphasizes the importance of who attends school with whom.
• Curriculum content and the social environment of schools both significantly contribute to learning environments.
• The lecture critiques the role of randomness in structuring schools, promoting a more thoughtful approach.

Gutman on Diversity

• This section addresses disagreements concerning political versus comprehensive liberal views on education and diversity.
• Cases like Wisconsin v. Yoder and Mozert v. Hawkins are mentioned in the context of broader discussion.
• The value of different ways of life is acknowledged while simultaneously promoting policies that value many cultures and encourage acceptance.

Some Observations About Practical Proposals

• Potential educational proposals are outlined. This section breaks these proposals into specific categories to analyze them systematically.
• Private schools and educational vouchers.
• Talent tracks
• Integration and school busing.
• Neighborhood schools.

A More Radical Approach: Liberal Egalitarianism 2.0

• This section addresses liberal egalitarianism, examining ideas beyond the conventional.
• Eliminating social and natural contingencies is discussed.
• Discussion of a more nuanced approach (liberal egalitarianism 2.0) to address educational disparities and social inequalities.
• This approach challenges the concept that one principle of justice can encompass all spheres.

A Potential Danger: A “Tyranny of Merit”

• The potential implications of merit-based systems leading to a "tyranny of merit" are discussed.
• The consequences of a limited number of positions driving competition are highlighted.
• The work of Michael Sandel examines the potential negative effects of an overreliance on merit-based systems.

Equality in Different Contexts

• Different approaches to equality are discussed.
• Bernard Williams's "The Idea of Equality" is referenced.
• This section identifies cases where needs justify certain priorities (such as health care).
• Various contextual factors and the good(s) in question, and who should receive them, are considered in the discussion.

This quiz explores the complexities of equal opportunity in education, focusing on insights from theorists like Walzer and Rawls. Topics include the adequacy of equal opportunity, the role of private versus public education, and diversity in educational contexts. Participants will evaluate the implications of these theories on contemporary educational practices.