Professionalism and ethics in teaching /

In a volume that is far broader than its title indicates, Carr (Univ. of Edinburgh, UK) views teaching as fundamentally an ethical enterprise and seeks to explicate its roles and responsibilities accordingly. His analytic scalpel dissects complex moral dilemmas in education, including various relativist and subjectivist notions and nostrums. Eschewing technicist, competency-based panaceas, Carr portrays education as primarily an exercise in evaluative deliberation and understanding. Professional judgment is necessary if utilitarian craft skills are to be made meaningful. The same argument holds true for empirical scientific research. Thus, Carr appreciates Aristotle's emphasis on practical reason and Kant's conceptual frameworks for such analysis. Above all, he respects education as significant moral project. Dogmatic social theorists may reject his premises and solutions. Most other readers will find much wisdom in them. Recommended for graduate students and faculty. J. L. DeVitis; SUNY at Binghamton