General Education in American Universities - The Ascent of the American Spirit

Author: Huang Kunjin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The previous chapter explores the development of American universities and the evolution of their general education from a macro perspective of politics, society, and the economy. These political, social, and economic factors can be considered external influences on university general education. Moreover, the narrative approach of the previous chapter adopts a historical longitudinal observation or vertical sectional analysis. This chapter, however, delves into the philosophical concepts or schools of thought of university general education from an in-depth micro perspective, treating it as a study of internal factors through comparative analysis. The philosophical schools and ideological concepts of American university general education are numerous and complex. Broadly categorized, they can be divided into three major groups as representatives: Idealistic Traditionalism, Progressive Pragmatism, and Essentialist Traditionalism.
Idealistic Traditionalism (Idealism) originated with Plato, who believed that the ultimate reality of the universe is an eternal and universal truth or substance, an invisible or spiritual existence. Plato termed this "Idea," and all things and phenomena in the universe derive from this Idea, making concrete things and phenomena derivative, temporary, or illusory. What humans should pursue, of course, is the eternal and universal truth, not transient and limited phenomena. Later, Descartes, another Idealist, argued that the best, if not the only, way to attain this eternal and universal truth is through rational speculation, using the method of introspection to contemplate various doubts in order to reach a final certainty. This method is introspective. It is clear that Plato's greatest influence on general education (and even all education) lies in his emphasis on pursuing eternal and universal concepts or values, while Descartes lies in his emphasis on the use of introspective speculative methods. Plato focuses on the establishment of the teleology of general education, whereas Descartes focuses on the construction of its methodology. P30