Harry Brrighouse On Education Summary

Connection of Church and State
In Harry Brighouse’s On Education, he argues that schools are responsible for teaching students autonomy, or moral independence. Brighouse says that one important way for schools to do this is to expose students to people of all religious views; those who are extremely religious, agnostic, atheist, or anything in between. In addition to this, he says that these people should share how they have handled religious and moral conflicts and changes in personal faith. I believe that schools should be allowed to teach children about different religions and religious beliefs in order to facilitate personal autonomy and flourishing. A main objection to this could be found in the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment, where the Founding Fathers allude that there must a separation between church and state. Opponents of Brighouse’s theory would say that adding religious education into schools would directly be
However, if these people are to state the Constitution as opposition, they must consider the document in its entirety. In the preamble, the same men who declare this separation of church and state also assert that all humans should have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Happiness is an important aspect in a person’s flourishing, and can only be attained when a person is given the full chance to explore all options of life, including religious ones. Therefore, the Constitution, although indirectly, also offers support for the inclusion of different educational beliefs and principles in schools Skeptics may also say that it is not the State’s responsibility to teach students about different religious beliefs. These naysayers may instead say