Beyond the learning society: globalisation and the moral imperative for reflective social change

Abstract

The argument of this paper is that the learning society, as presented by the dominant discourse, has emphasised scientific rationality and work–life learning to the exclusion of both a comprehensive understanding of lifelong learning and also the breadth of human experience and knowledge. This is because global capitalism has emphasised scientific and technical knowledge and the competitive market; its other driving force has been information technology, which has, paradoxically, made us all aware of the extremes of global capitalism and evoked a moral sentiment that will lead to social change. The moral argument here is pragmatic but it also reflects but does not rely on Pitirim Sorokin’s theory of social change, in which we move from a sensate to an ideational society, and with the change the discourse on the learning society will necessarily change.

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Peter Jarvis

Peter Jarvis is Professor of Continuing Education, School of Arts, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH. Email: [email protected].