Tillson, John (2015) Children, religion and the ethics of influence. PhD thesis, Dublin City University.
Abstract
This thesis investigates how (if at all) children ought to be influenced with respect to
religion(s). To answer this question, I develop a theory of cognitive curriculum content
and apply it to the teaching of religious beliefs and beliefs about religions. By ‘a theory
of cognitive curriculum content,’ I mean a theory that determines which truth-claims
belong on the curriculum, and whether or not teachers ought to promote students’ belief
of those claims. I extend this theory to help educators to decide which attitudes address
on the curriculum and whether or not to promote them. I then apply this to the case of
religious attitudes and attitudes about religions. I argue that where having or failing to
have a certain attitude makes a significant difference to students’ lives, it ought to be
addressed by curricula. Where failing to have the attitude is irrational, this failure ought
to be remedied; where having the attitude is irrational, that attitude ought to be
discouraged; and where neither having nor failing to have the attitude is irrational, that
attitude ought to be introduced and discussed without encouragement or
discouragement. In so far as is practicable, educators should aim to acquaint students
with arguments for and against having these attitudes and initiate them into the practice
of assessing their soundness. The implications of this theory for extra-curricular
influence, such as upbringing in the home, are also explored.
Metadata
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
---|---|
Date of Award: | November 2015 |
Refereed: | No |
Supervisor(s): | Byrne, Gareth and Leask, Ian |
Subjects: | Humanities > Philosophy Humanities > Religions |
DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > School of Theology, Philosophy, & Music |
Use License: | This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. View License |
ID Code: | 22608 |
Deposited On: | 30 Aug 2018 11:53 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 30 Aug 2018 11:53 |
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