Richard Stanley Peters
Encyclopedia
Richard Stanley Peters is a British philosopher. His work belongs mainly to the areas of political theory, philosophical psychology
, and philosophy of education
.
and received in 1942 Bachelor of Arts
. Starting from 1944 he taught at the Sidcot Grammar School in Somerset
. He was a part-time lecturer at Birkbeck college University of London
, where he also studied philosophy and psychology. There he received his PhD in 1949. From 1949 to 1958 he was employed there as a full time lecturer. Afterwards until 1962 he was a reader in philosophy. In 1961 he had a one-year guest professorship for education at Harvard University
. In following the year he moved on to Australian National University
. From 1962 until his retirement in 1983, Peters was professor of the philosophy of education at the Institute of Education (founded 1947) University of London
. In 1971 he was dean of the institute. Under his guidance the institute grew fast and considerably influenced the development of the philosophy of the education in England. At the institute Peters collaborated with Paul H. Hirst, who later became professor for education at King's college in London and then professor at University of Cambridge
. Other famous university graduates of this time at institute were R. K. Elliott, David Cooper, John White, Patricia White and the late Robert Dearden.
, more exactly with a philosophical view of psychological issues. Thus his research was in the areas motivation, emotions, personality as well as social behavior and the relationship between reason and longing. Perhaps the most important work by Peters is "Ethics and Education". With this and his subsequent publications he significantly influenced the development of the philosophy of education in Great Britain and world-wide. The influence was a result of his examination of the concept of education in the sense of analytic philosophy. Central tools thereby are term analysis. Peters explores two substantial aspects of the philosophy of education: the normative and the cognitive.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and philosophy of education
Philosophy of education
Philosophy of education can refer to either the academic field of applied philosophy or to one of any educational philosophies that promote a specific type or vision of education, and/or which examine the definition, goals and meaning of education....
.
Biography
Peters was born 1919 in India. He spent his childhood with his grandmother in England. From 1933-1938 he was a student at Sidcot School in Winscombe. In the Second World War he served in the ambulance service with friends. From his marriage (1942) there were one son and two daughters.Academic career
Peters studied at Queen's college University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and received in 1942 Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. Starting from 1944 he taught at the Sidcot Grammar School in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. He was a part-time lecturer at Birkbeck college University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he also studied philosophy and psychology. There he received his PhD in 1949. From 1949 to 1958 he was employed there as a full time lecturer. Afterwards until 1962 he was a reader in philosophy. In 1961 he had a one-year guest professorship for education at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In following the year he moved on to Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. From 1962 until his retirement in 1983, Peters was professor of the philosophy of education at the Institute of Education (founded 1947) University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. In 1971 he was dean of the institute. Under his guidance the institute grew fast and considerably influenced the development of the philosophy of the education in England. At the institute Peters collaborated with Paul H. Hirst, who later became professor for education at King's college in London and then professor at University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Other famous university graduates of this time at institute were R. K. Elliott, David Cooper, John White, Patricia White and the late Robert Dearden.
Influence on the philosophy of education
Peters is known particularly for his work in the philosophy of the education. However his early writings were occupied with psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, more exactly with a philosophical view of psychological issues. Thus his research was in the areas motivation, emotions, personality as well as social behavior and the relationship between reason and longing. Perhaps the most important work by Peters is "Ethics and Education". With this and his subsequent publications he significantly influenced the development of the philosophy of education in Great Britain and world-wide. The influence was a result of his examination of the concept of education in the sense of analytic philosophy. Central tools thereby are term analysis. Peters explores two substantial aspects of the philosophy of education: the normative and the cognitive.
Works
- R. S. Peters: Education as initiation, 1964, in: R. D. Archambault (Ed.): Philosophical analysis and education. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1965, pp. 87–111.
- R. S. Peters: Ethics and education. 5th edn, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London 1968. In German translation: R. S. Peters: Ethik und Erziehung. In: W. Loch, H. Paschen, G. Priesemann (Hrsg.): Sprache und Lernen. Internationale Studien zur pädagogischen Anthropologie, Band 19, Düsseldorf 1972.
- R. S. Peters: The philosophy of education. 1966, in: J. W. Tibble (Ed.): The study of education. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1966, pp. 59–89.
- R. S. Peters: What is an educational process?. 1967, in: R. S. Peters (Ed.): The concept of education. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1967, pp. 1–23.
- R. S. Peters: Michael Oakeshott's philosophy of education. 1968, in: R. S. Peters: Essays on educators. George Allen & Unwin, London 1981, pp. 89–109.
- R. S. Peters, P.H. Hirst: The logic of education. 2nd edn, Routledge&Kegan Paul, London 1971, In German translation: P. H. Hirst, R. S. Peters: Die Begründung der Erziehung durch die Vernunft. In: W. Loch, H. Paschen, G. Priesemann (Hrsg.): Sprache und Lernen. Internationale Studien zur pädagogischen Anthropologie, Band 18, Düsseldorf 1972.
- R. F. Dearden, P. H. Hirst, R. S. Peters (Eds.): Education and the development of reason. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1972.
- R. S. Peters (Ed.): The philosophy of education. Oxford University Press, London 1973.
- R. S. Peters: Psychology and ethical development. A collection of articles on psychological theories, ethical delopment and human understanding. George Allen & Unwin, London 1974.
- R. S. Peters: Education and the education of teachers. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1977.
- R. S. Peters: Moral development and moral education. George Allen & Unwin, London 1981.
- R. S. Peters: Philosophy of education. In: P. H. Hirst (Ed.): Educational theory and its foundation disciplines. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London 1983, pp. 30–61.
Sources
- D. E. Cooper (Ed.): Education, values and mind. Essays for R. S. Peters. London/Boston/Henley 1986.
- J. Earwaker: R. S. Peters and the Concept of Education. In: Journal of Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain. Vol. 7, 1973, pp. 239–259.
- P. Enslin: Are Hirst and Peters Liberal Philosophers of Education?. In: Journal of Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain. Vol. 19, 1985, pp. 211–222.
- J. W. Steutel: Konzepte und Konzeptionen. Zum Problem einer analytischen Erziehungsphilosophie. In: Zeitschrift für Pädagogik. Band 37, 1991, S.81-96.
- J. Steutel, B. Spiecker: R. S. Peters' und P. H. Hirsts Analyse von‚ education' im Hinblick auf eine Bildungstheorie. In: O. Hansmann (Hrsg.): Diskurs Bildungstheorie II. Problemgeschichtliche Orientierungen. Weinheim 1989, S. 508-536.
External links
- http://www.ioe.ac.uk/services/693.html
- http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=12449&12449_0=13056