The art of humane education /

The aim of this small book is to provide a brief overview of pedagogy in both a theoretical and a practical sense. Verene (Charles Howard Candler Professor of Metaphysics and Moral Philosophy, Emory Univ.) presents a new statement of the classical and humanist ideals that he believes should guide education in the liberal arts and sciences. Pointing out that a humane education includes the study of the sciences and the humanities, Verene addresses major issues concerning tradition, cultural changes, the idea of a canon, the differences between the humanities and the sciences, and practical problems in teaching. Verene's emphasis is on humanistic education, and from time to time he attempts to state what seem to him parallel points for scientific education. However, he becomes sharply critical of many aspects of the modern university and of many currents within the humanities, and he encourages discussion and criticism from readers. This book remains, at heart, a ringing endorsement of the high humanist tradition and its continuing relevance to the institutions of teaching and learning. A necessary and radically important work; recommended for academic libraries. Samuel T. Huang, Univ. of Arizona Lib., Tucson (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.