Richard Rorty: Une philosophie de l’éducation entre élitisme et conservatisme?

Richard Rorty's philosophy of education takes interest in the processes by which individuals in schools and universities develop their own characters. However, while each individual – pupil and student – has to deal with his/her beliefs and desires, only universities remain reliable for ensuring cultural renewal. This chapter aims at critically analysing Rorty’s philosophical positions in two different parts. First, it considers the main assumptions and inheritances of this pragmatism towards classical philosophies. Second, it investigates his understanding of "liberal hope" that should facilitate the decrease of cruelty as well as the development of human solidarity. If on one hand school represents a period of learning the basics of political participation and traditional values, and on the other hand, the university is the moment of scepticism and suspicion which could “luckily” turns into creativity, one may ask whether such a philosophy takes inconsiderable risks in favouring conservatism and elitism.