Module Code 單元編號 PFS2033 Module Title 單元名稱 REASON, CULTURE, AND EDUCATION: PHILOSOPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY Module Synopsis 單元概要 What values should we cultivate in our children to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century? Should schools and educators remain neutral to the matter of same-sex marriage and respect transgender identities? Can we answer these questions through independent reasoning, or should we also be guided by the culture and values of our community? In short, is the objective of liberal education to make individuals free, or to make them flourishing members of their community? Thoughts about the importance of tolerance and individual liberty blossomed after the publication of Mill’s On Liberty in the nineteenth century, whereas the discussions regarding the objectives of education can be traced back to the times of Plato more than two thousand years ago. To answer these questions, we will examine a range of issues, from communitarianism to libertarianism, from the plurality of values to the meaning of life, or whether human beings can achieve Eudaimonia in a modern, liberal society. In addition, this course will consider the questions with reference to the cultural characteristics of the 21st century, including the facts of diversity within and between cultures, the impact of globalization, and the dominance of social media and online activities in contemporary society. In the course, the lecturer will conduct discussions through philosophy, blended-learning activities, and films. Students are encouraged to develop their own views throughout the course.