Epistemologies and Ethics in Adult Education and Lifelong Learning

This book explores competing epistemologies and ethical frameworks in modern lifelong learning, highlighting the importance of recognizing and understanding assumptions about knowledge and moral positions. It identifies four key epistemologies and ethical perspectives: disciplinary, developmental, emancipatory, and design, which have played significant roles in the lifelong learning movement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book presents and advocates for a comprehensive framework of competing epistemologies and ethical conceptions as a means of understanding modernist lifelong learning. These epistemologies are rooted in the recognition of the normative nature of knowledge that underpins lifelong learning, with each one framed by a distinct account of the type of knowledge that is most valued and thus prioritized in lifelong learning policy, provision, and engagement. Each epistemology is further distinguished by its own constituent conception of ethics. Here, four such epistemologies and ethical frameworks are acknowledged as having played significant roles in the lifelong learning movement to date: disciplinary, developmental, emancipatory, and design.

The authors argue that assumptions about knowledge and moral positions constitute a powerful but often overlooked aspect of such arguments: recognizing these assumptions and positions can greatly enhance our understanding of what is at stake in lifelong learning and adult education at all levels.

In exploring these epistemologies and ethical frameworks, the book offers a rich and nuanced exploration of the complex interplay between knowledge, values, and moral positions in lifelong learning. It highlights the importance of recognizing and challenging assumptions that may limit our understanding of what it means to learn and grow throughout life. By examining the different perspectives and values that shape these epistemologies and ethical frameworks, the book provides valuable insights into the broader debates and discussions surrounding lifelong learning and adult education.

Furthermore, the book advocates for a more inclusive and equitable approach to lifelong learning that recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of learners. It encourages educators and policymakers to adopt a pluralistic approach that values and respects different epistemologies and ethical frameworks, ensuring that lifelong learning opportunities are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the field of lifelong learning and adult education. By presenting and advocating for a framework of competing epistemologies and ethical conceptions, it provides a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of modernist lifelong learning. It encourages readers to critically examine their assumptions and positions and to embrace a more inclusive and equitable approach to lifelong learning that recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of learners.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030949822
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022