Philosophical Foundations of Adult Education (Hardcover)

by John L. Elias (Author), Sharan B. Merriam (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Third Edition of Philosophical Foundations of Adult Education presents seven theoretical approaches to adult education: liberal, progressive, behaviorist, humanist, radical/critical, analytic, and postmodern. The book gives the historical grounding as well as the basic principles for each approach. In this edition each chapter has been revised and brought up to date. The chapter on radical adult education incorporates recent developments in radical education, phenomenology, feminist educational theory, and critical social theory. The book contains an entirely new chapter on postmodern adult education.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 286 pages
• Publisher: Krieger Publishing Company; 3 edition (December 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575242540
• ISBN-13: 978-1575242545
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #317,288 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great review of Educational Philosophy, September 30, 2008

By	Karen-Project Mgmt Prof "Ed.D. Student" (Mpls, MN) - See all my reviews

Maybe it's just me, but I struggle with some of the less direct philosophies. Elias and Merriam are concise, thoughtful and comprehensive in their review of the history, key concepts and trends in the philosophical foundations of adult education. This is a great book if you need a reference that provides great detail and is understandable.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive overview, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Philosophical Foundations of Adult Education (Hardcover)

"This book brings to life issues concerned with the philosophy of adult educators and relationships betweeen education and society. Due to it primary North American focus, the book will find its major audience there, but will appeal also to readers everywhere with an interest in the historical development of adult education. The strength of the work lies in the way it casts U.S. adult education in new roles: the facts come together in new ways to create new gestalts.... It is difficult to be objective about a book that reflects so accurately and faithfully the wide range of options that educational thought presents to us. Therefore, we confess to an overriding desire to induce as many readers as possible to beg, buy or borrow PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF ADULT EDUCATION--not just to add to your personal library so much as to enjoy a reactivated search for your personal truth under the capable ministrations of Elias and Merriam." Dr. June Barth-Dow-Sheats and Dr. Paul H. Sheats, CONVERGENCE

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic, October 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Philosophical Foundations of Adult Education (Hardcover)

This book provides an excellent overview of the classic education philosphies in the context of adult education. It is very useful as a text book in graduate level courses, but would need to be supplimented with other resources providing information on emerging theories.