Abstract

The aim of the dissertation is to answer two questions: What does Karl Marx mean when he uses 'freedom'?, and what substantive issues might his use of 'freedom' imply for education? ;In order to address the first question, I first highlight some of the philosophical problems associated with questions of meaning. I also provide a selective literature review of how certain other writers have used and conceived of 'freedom'. In the course of this review I examine a triadic schema provided by one of the writers that is claimed, if utilized, to identify the substantive issues that users of 'freedom' are concerned about. ;My strategy for answering the first question that the dissertation addresses then is to apply this schema to Marx's writings. Thus, I first examine Marx's assumptions and beliefs about human nature and then argue that Marx believed that human beings are free when they live and labour in accord with human nature itself. Finally, I argue that one word signifies what prevents human freedom: 'alienation'. ;To answer the second question that the dissertation addresses, I continue to use the triadic schema but limit my argument to Marx's belief in the importance of human beings as species-beings. The course I take is to argue that if teachers encourage students to be empathically disposed, then this is a promising vehicle for helping them become species-beings and hence, promoting human freedom. ;I argue that in order for students to have an empathic disposition what is required is that teachers implement activities designed so that students share experiences with other people. Students would be encouraged to be involved in activities that allowed them to feel with others, understand these activities from the perspective of those they share it with and in turn, to examine their own feelings and perspectives in light of these shared activities. The ultimate aim being that as a result of such empathic activities and experiences, students would recognize and be disposed to act on the human and fundamental bond they share with others