By Professor Stephen R.C. Hicks, Rockford University, USA.
Lecture 5: If education is to prepare students for living the best possible life, what is that? Which values and virtues are essential?
Previous lectures in the series:
Part One: What is the purpose of education, and what is philosophy’s relevance?
Part Two: Reality: Metaphysics and Education. The Creation Story, the Big Bang Story, and more.
Part Three: Knowledge: Epistemology and Education. If education is about the transmission of knowledge, then what is knowledge? Or if it’s about training young people’s habits of mind, then what about alertness to evidence, skill with logic, and a commitment to reason? Does faith work? Is everything just opinion?
Part Four: Human Nature and Education: Free Will and Determinism, Reason and Emotion, the Mind and the Body, and more.
Other lectures in the series forthcoming:
Part Six: Integrated “Isms” and Education
Part Seven: Idealism, Plato, and Kant, and Education
Part Eight: Realism, Aristotle, and Locke, and Education
Part Nine: Pragmatism, Dewey, and Education
Part Ten: Behaviorism, Skinner, and Education
Part Eleven: Existentialism, Sartre, Camus, and Education
Part Twelve: Objectivism, Rand, Montessori, and Education
Part Thirteen: Marxism, Marx, and Education
Part Fourteen: Postmodernism, Foucault, Giroux, and Education
Part Fifteen: Education as One’s Mission, and Conclusion
Related: Stephen Hicks’s other posts and publications on Education.
Hello Prof. Hicks.
I asked ChatGPT this question: “Hello. Why some write that the philosopher Stephen R.C. Hicks, specialist of postmodernism, is a fascist or a proto-fascist?”
And this was its answer. Very interesting:
“Hello! The reason some people label Stephen R. C. Hicks as a “fascist” or “proto-fascist” likely stems from his strong critique of postmodernism, his alignment with classical liberal and libertarian ideas, and his connections with right-leaning intellectual circles.
However, these accusations are usually polemical rather than based on a substantive link to actual fascist ideology.
Why Some Might Call Him a “Proto-Fascist”:
– Critique of Postmodernism & the Left – Hicks argues that postmodernism is a form of irrationalist and relativist thought that serves as an ideological cover for authoritarian leftist politics. Some on the left see this as a form of “red-baiting” or reactionary rhetoric.
– Ayn Rand & Objectivism – He has been associated with Objectivist circles, particularly in his opposition to collectivism and emphasis on individualism. Some critics equate radical individualism with right-wing authoritarian tendencies.
– Association with Right-Leaning Figures – He has been featured in media outlets and events associated with conservative or libertarian perspectives, which leads some leftist critics to see him as part of a broader “reactionary” movement.
– Misuse of the Term “Fascist” – In contemporary discourse, “fascist” is often used as a catch-all term for right-wing or anti-leftist intellectuals, even when they do not fit the historical definition.
Why the Accusation is Misleading:
– Hicks is a proponent of classical liberalism, which historically opposes fascism.
– Fascism emphasizes collectivism, nationalism, and authoritarianism, while Hicks promotes individual liberty, reason, and free markets.
– His work does not advocate for ethno-nationalism, militarism, or dictatorship, which are core elements of fascism.
The charge of fascism against Hicks seems more like an ideological attack rather than a rigorous classification. His opposition to postmodernism, socialism, and leftist politics makes him a target for critics who conflate any strong anti-leftist stance with fascism.”
Best!