We are excited to announce that Philosophy and Education alum Mark Jonas, Ph.D. 2009, has published a new book titled, Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Education: Rethinking Ethics, Equality and the Good Life in a Democratic Age (Routledge).

The book "is centrally concerned with Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical legacy for education. As is well known, this legacy is a source of enduring conflict among scholars. For some, Nietzsche’s seemingly radical ideas about perspectival knowledge and authentic self-creation appear to encourage the individual to cast aside all social, moral and epistemic constraints. Nietzsche seems to offer an educational vision that is inimical to all organized education. Others maintain that Nietzsche endorses an elitist political order which openly militates against democratic values. Nietzsche must therefore be an enemy of democratic education, it seems. In this book, they argue that both of these interpretations of Nietzsche’s educational legacy are seriously mistaken. Nietzsche advocates neither licentious individualism nor radical elitism, but rather advocates a compelling and coherent vision of human flourishing which aims to promote the excellence of all individuals. Not only can Nietzsche serve as a crucial source of educational inspiration for modern democratic societies, but his educational philosophy offers four powerful educational ideas—perspectivism, self-overcoming, ressentiment and noble culture—which yield four compelling educational aims for the modern democratic school: empathizing with the perspectives of others, learning to think controversially, cultivating a disposition of gratitude, and creating a culture of emulation. Hence, this book is a committed effort to determine Nietzsche’s true legacy for democratic education. " 

Mark Jonas is an Associate Professor of Education, and Associate Professor of Philosophy (by courtesy) at Wheaton College. Douglas Yacek is Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Dortmund.

Click here to learn more about Professor Jonas's upcoming book.