May 2, 2019, by apyreb

So you think you’ve been taught…

It often seems that Philosophers are out to confuse you about things that you thought you knew, well here’s another one for you! I rolled out of bed to my 9am this morning and learnt how teaching is judgement dependent…I was as stumped as you are, but read on to see a typical study topic at UON Philosophy!

 

What’s the issue?

We usually begin with a concept and look at different ways that we can define it, so with teaching we could say that if a teacher intends to bring about learning then teaching has occurred. We could also say that if the student has learnt something then teaching has occurred.

So simple right?

 

If only it was this simple…

Next, we try to see if we can find any problems with the way people define these concepts.

Imagine that an actor arrives at a school. He thinks he is in a movie and acts accordingly, but somehow he’s turned up to a real class. He reads his lines and the students learn from what he’s saying. Does that mean that because learning has occurred the teacher has taught? It doesn’t seem right to say this in this context!

A solution!

Fisher and Tallant claim that teaching is judgement dependent! Mind boggled? Let me elaborate…

This means that if a student judges that they have been taught, then teaching has occurred, but they must be under ideal conditions!

IDEAL– attending to the situation

 

NOT IDEAL– excessive noise, intoxicated

So what now? 

If we believe that teaching happens when students believe they have been taught, then why stop at humans? Surely ROBOTS can teach us? Why not eh anything is possible with a philosophy degree!

What do you guys make of this? 

Read the paper for yourself: www.fisherwhatdoesitmeantoteach.co.uk

Let us know on Twitter: @nottsphilosophyUON

 

 

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