Blackwell Reference Online

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P olitical philosophy, philosophy of religion One of the major aims of the philosophy of education is to distinguish between the superficially similar notions of teaching and indoctrination. While teaching encourages students and learners to develop their rational capacities and to have their own views on various disputed issues, indoctrination is regarded as the activity of conveying dogma to pupils who are expected to accept it without question. The beliefs that are taught are not open to rational criticism from the pupil. They are intended to be implanted in the minds of the students so that their subsequent experience will not change their beliefs. Indoctrination is typically represented in the preaching of religious doctrine or political opinion. It typically involves authoritarian methods and is open to manipulation by interested parties. “Perhaps the least contentious account would be that indoctrination is a form of teaching in which it is intended that certain beliefs should be accepted without question, either because it is thought that they are not only important but unquestionably true, or because, for various reasons, it is thought important that, true or not, they should not be questioned.” T. Moore, Philosophy of Education ... log in or subscribe to read full text