Siegel's broad rationality: critical thinking as an educational and moral ideal grounding Constructivism¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Drawing on Siegel's (1996) Rationality Redeemed?, the paper presents a broad notion of rationality with both epistemological and moral dimensions as a cognitive tool supporting Constructivism. The main tenet is that the ideal of education is to promote rationality and critical thinking, with the critical thinker possessing a reason assessment component: understanding principles of reason assessment and the ability to use them to evaluate beliefs, actions, and judgements. Critical thinking as an educational ideal carries attributes including respect for students as persons, self-sufficiency, initiation into the rational tradition, and democratic living, making it also a moral ideal congruent with Constructivism's prescriptive component.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Critical thinkers must have both a solid understanding of the principles of reason assessment and significant ability to utilize that understanding in evaluation

Constraints¶

• The paper frames this as a philosophical grounding offered against anti-Enlightenment tenets, not an empirically tested instructional design

Target Learners¶

• students in educational settings

Target Learning Objectives¶

• critical thinking
• rationality
• reason assessment

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Siegel's reasons conception: critical thinking as being appropriately moved by reasons
• Habermas's communicative theory and Kantian limited objectivity as grounding for objective standards in Constructivism
• The univocal language of inquiry: the language of reasons across disciplines
• Siegel's two-component account of critical thinking: reason assessment ability plus critical attitude

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Luppicini, Rocci; Schnackenberg, Heidi. (2000). In Support of Constructivism: Utilizing Rational, Moral and Communicative Frameworks to Address Frequently Posited Criticisms. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED455777