The War for Children's Minds

by Stephen Law

Book Overview

Behind headlines on the conflict in Iraq and global terrorism, a much deeper battle is raging over children and the values they should adopt. Political and religious leaders including Blair and Bush... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415378559
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.9" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Roadmap out of our Politically Correct Education Nightmare

Law's book promotes the idea that the best way to bring up children is such that they learn to think for themselves yet within a framework that eschews moral relativism, "the prevailing philosophy of the West". Relativism proclaims that there is no absolute moral truth, just differing opinions, all of which are equally valid. For example, Somalis cut off the women's clitoris before they reach puberty. They think it is right. In the west, we think it is wrong. A relativist will say that they are both right. Again, Law cites Robert Simon, a professor of philosophy, quoting despairingly of a student: 'Of course I dislike the Nazis', but who is to say they are morally wrong.' Law goes on to say: "Relativism, it's often argued, has also poisoned our homes. Parents no longer feel they have the right to force their own values on their children. Adults no longer confident in their own moral authority or the objectivity of their moral judgments are standing back and allowing their children to run amok." In another passage he points out that in schools "...teachers reach for relativism to get them off the hook. That Jesus is true-for-Christians but false-for-muslims. Relativism saves educators from having to admit that any religion might actually mistaken, or even (heaven forbid) that they might be all mistaken. Law trenchantly observes: `politically correct' arguments for relativism, while seductive, are muddle headed nonsense'. Law points out that debates about child education focus, erroneously, on only two alternatives: what he calls "Liberal" and "Authoritarian". The Authoritarian approach simply tells children what to think. Many religions are authoritarian for example. The Liberal approach is to guide children to question critically and think for themselves. (Personally, I would prefer him to use a term instead of "Liberal" that is not so politically loaded: "Free-thinker" perhaps?). Law says that there is a second dimension with two alternatives: "Relativist" and "Non-relativist". In many people's minds, Relativism is the automatic handmaiden to Liberalism. Law's insight is to point out that it ain't necessarily so: education can be BOTH Non-relativist AND Liberal. He arrives at this conclusion after meeting all possible objections and defusing them with a philosopher's clarity of logic. Stephen Law writes with admirable simplicity and his philosophical arguments are readily understood. Law, naturally enough, approaches his topic as a philosophical argument. In passing he mentions that some moral stances are found universally in just about every culture. That opens a very interesting subject: many moral fundamentals are hard-wired in the human species. One common one is "Thou shalt not kill". Just about every culture has this kind of moral position but, just as with the Hebrews, it was only supposed to apply to one's own tribe. It was quite acceptable to kill people from other tribes. After all, Moses had hardly descended from the mountain

Excellent Book. Solid Arguments. Fun Read.

Stephen Law has produced a fun read on a very controversial and serious topic. His arguments are solid in defense of liberal education. He tells how authoritarian education, in both theistic and atheistic forms, is bad for children. He tells how critical thinking does not lead to moral relativism, and gives a convincing case for the defense of critical thinking in schools. Law is a gem among philosophers in that he provides his lucid arguments in readable form, which can be followed throughout the book. He provides numerous anecdotes and witty writing to provide a good, fun, enlightening read. A well-timed and excellent book. I highly recommend it to everyone, whether you are with or without kids or whether you are in or out of the educational system.