a preview of thinkers featured at infed.org

[Skip Zilla]

A section of the Infed.org Website presents a directory list of thinkers who are "central to the development of the theory and practice of lifelong learning, social action and informal education."

Connie (Weber) has been particularly influenced by the work of Nel Noddings who is prominently included in this list. What can be found at infed.org about Nel Noddings' work and influence on others might be a good resource for starting several discussions about her in this particular Group and/or elsewhere at the Fireside Learning website.

In a similar way, other discussions might be started based on other thinkers, theories, and practices referenced at infed.org.

[Connie Weber]

Skip, what a great group to get going. Yes--thank you for the reference to Nel Noddings. Also on the list (among MANY important thinkers): Jerome Bruner, John Dewey, Ivan Illich, Peter Senge, A.S. Neil, Gandhi. Wow--how DO you find such interesting sites? There's so much to think about.

[Ian Carmichael]

And Postman, Parker, Holt (but only briefly!) Great site. (That's two in one day, and Christmas dinner not long ago - what a feast!). I'm just catching up in some things - very much enjoying How People Learn.

[ddeubel]

If I had to take one person from the list that has influenced me, it would be Michael Polyani. I read him long before I ever thought of becoming a teacher and he seemed to me to "get it". His personal knowledge really foreshadowed a lot of what Schon promoted such as reflectiveness and passionate involvement. The whole family was stellar.

Take a look, you'll find that Hungary has really given the world some outstanding thinkers. Mikes, Koestler, Faludy to name a few. We remain endebted to the magyar merry meant.

David

[Ian Carmichael]

And here we are using computers - von Neumann is from...?
Yes Hungary.

[ddeubel]

So true Ian! Any Hungarian in you? I guess not.....Scottish? A few good fellows from that neck of the woods too (what woods are left :).

David

[Ian Carmichael]

Eventually the tree leads back to Scotland, mainly (and there are some fairly hot thinkers up there as well!). Some Irish has snuck in also (and some terrific thinkers in this group also). (How do I know von Neumann was Hungarian? I was searching for an image to liven up a Comp Sci presentation - and the nicest was on an Hungarian stamp. Marvellous artifact this internet thingy!).
[You know, but I may be wrong here - perhaps there are terrific thinkers all over. Now comedians... BTW Terry Pratchett has as one of his characters the greatest living mathematician and philosopher - who is a camel!]

[Connie Weber]

Me, too, Scottish in background! I picture my ancestors raising sheep on in the Highlands. Who knows what's true?

David, you've launched me into a new study, at least in overview form. I know nothing about Michael Polanyi, and he looks very interesting. I want to think a lot more about this. From the infed bio:

"Tacit knowledge

Central to Michael Polanyi's thinking was the belief that creative acts (especially acts of discovery) are shot-through or charged with strong personal feelings and commitments (hence the title of his most famous work Personal Knowledge). Arguing against the then dominant position that science was somehow value-free, Michael Polanyi sought to bring into creative tension a concern with reasoned and critical interrogation with other, more 'tacit', forms of knowing. "

Sounds fascinating. Is the infed site the place to start?

[ddeubel]

Connie,

I think you'd hit it off with Polyani's clear headed writing and perspective. He doesn't focus on education per se but rather how we come to know what we know. Epistomolgy that is really accessible. So in fact, his writing is about "everything" and really important.

Speaking of more Hungarians - let's not forget Rubik! ( I think that's how you spell his name). You got me thinking of philosopher / mathematicians and combined in my google lobe with Hungarian, they produced him.

The better known Scots as far as knowledge are concerned to me is the very underrated David Hume. I also think Adam Smith was Scottish (?). My fav. philosopher / mathematician without a doubt is Pascal though at times I can swallow the heady Frenchman Poincare. Bertrand Russell despite his intentions, gives me indigestion! Einstein might fit the category though.....I'll have to look into this "camel" - is he fashioned after a particular person?

David

[Ian Carmichael]

And while we're on the go with the Scots-Hungarian connection, there's a very famous lecture series endowed by Lord Gifford not in its 130'th or so year. It's recently had its biography written as the Measure of Reality, and intended to examine the relations between natural and revealed religion. Personal Knowledge was the book of Polanyi's Gifford Lectures. The series provides an amazing list of thinkers - and topics. Well worth a little examination An accessible introduction is Terry Witham's The Measure of Reality
(My great Scots tend to be theologians and preachers -eg William Barclay, A J Gossip, James Stewart, and one of the great theology publishing is the Edinburgh-based T & T Clark)