Education, extremism and aversion to compromise
Michael Hand (Birmingham University)

5.30-7.15 pm

This is to be a face-to-face meeting. We are exploring the feasibility of making online attendance possible. Please wait for further announcements.

For further inquiries: p.standish@ucl.ac.uk

A paper is attached here.

Schools plausibly have a role to play in countering radicalisation by taking steps to prevent the acquisition of extremist beliefs, dispositions and attitudes. A core component of the extremist mindset is aversion to compromise. I inquire here into the possibility, desirability and means of educating against this attitude. I argue that aversion to compromise is demonstrably undesirable and readiness to compromise demonstrably desirable, so discursive teaching of these attitudes should guide pupils towards these verdicts. And I identify three methods of formative teaching by which readiness to compromise can be cultivated in pupils.
 
Michael Hand is Professor of Philosophy of Education and University Director of Postgraduate Research at the University of Birmingham. He edits the IMPACT pamphlet series and the Bloomsbury Philosophy of Education book series. Michael’s research interests are in the areas of moral, political, religious and philosophical education. His books include A Theory of Moral Education (Routledge, 2018), Education, Ethics and Experience: Essays in Honour of Richard Pring (Routledge, 2016), Patriotism in Schools (Wiley, 2011), Philosophy in Schools (Bloomsbury, 2008) and Is Religious Education Possible? (Bloomsbury, 2006). 
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