Leaving Safe Harbors : Toward a New Progressivism in American Education and Public Life

To rise to the challenges of postmodern culture, Carlson argues, progressives will need to leave the safe harbors of what is familiar and comfortable. A new progressivism can only be forged of a fundamental re-thinking and re-mythologizing of democratic education. Drawing upon cultural studies perspectives, Carlson interrogates philosophy through popular culture for mythologies that might guide such a progressivism. Carlson uses Platonic, Hegelian, Nitzschean, and Heideggerian "mythologies" to elaborate a progressive model that provides powerful ways of "thinking" democratic education and public life. Front Cover Leaving Safe Harbors Copyright Page Contents Preface Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Lighting Up the Cave: Progressivism and the Ghost of Plato Chapter 3. Recognizing Ourselves: Hegel and the Master/Slave Struggle in Education Chapter 4. Zarathustra’s Education: Nietzsche and Postmodern Progressivism Chapter 5. A Cyborg’s Education: Heidegger and Eco-Progressivism Chapter 6. Leaving Safe Harbors Notes Index To rise to the challenges of postmodern culture, this work argues, progressivism will need to leave the safe harbours of what is familiar and comfortable. A new progressivism can only be forged of a fundamental re-thinking and re-mythologizing of democratic education. Melville begins his epic novel, Mob-Dick, in the safe harbors of New Bedford, a town that exists as a place of departure and return of whaling boats.