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George North
Paper 1
Richard J. Elliott, Professor Emeritus
EDFR 6400--History of American Education
February 25, 1997

In our country today, there is much talk about the nature of values, of moral

decline, and ethics in general. Education has always been concerned about "good"

character development. Your assignment is to contrast or examine the issues of

morals in education as Dewey and Plato might discuss them. In your analysis be

sure to include a discussion of the notions of experience, habit, community,

teaching, growth, etc.. By drawing upon your readings in chapter 1 and 2 and from

your experience, reason to the extent that you may conclude who has the better

notions of moral education--Dewey or Plato. Give reasons for you answer.

A goal of any philosopher is to use pursuit of wisdom and moral self-discipline

to explain perceptions. The philosophy that develops is intended to rationalize the

causes and laws of underlying reality.

Plato was one of the first great philosophers. He lived during a time of social

turmoil just before the fall of Athens. He was a student of Socrates, and put Socrates'

work down in writing. As a philosopher, his theories were opposite that of the reining

school of thought. During his time, the intellectuals believed that happiness was the

same as pleasure and that if you could get away with doing something that gives you

pleasure, then that act is good. Plato and Socrates, on the other hand, believed in a

theory of forms. That is, that there are perfect ways things should be that we as

humans can see but can never achieve. Anyone knows what a perfect circle looks like,