EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: INTEGRATING INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT WITH MARXIST PERSPECTIVES ON EQUITY

Abstract

This article examines the fundamental questions of educational philosophy—what education is, what it should accomplish, and how it should be practiced—while integrating insights from Marxist social analysis to illuminate education's role in both reproducing and potentially transforming social inequalities. The first section explores core concepts in educational philosophy, including the purposes of education for individual development, the nature of knowledge and learning, and education's inherent social dimensions. Building on this foundation, the second section employs a Marxist-informed framework to critically analyze education's social functions, examining how educational systems may perpetuate existing hierarchies through mechanisms of social reproduction while also possessing transformative potential. Through concrete policy examples including public education systems, poverty alleviation initiatives, and higher education access, the article reveals persistent tensions between educational equity rhetoric and stratified realities. The third section translates philosophical insights into practical considerations for educational design and implementation, addressing curriculum content, pedagogical approaches, assessment practices, and systemic reforms necessary for more equitable education. Throughout, the article argues that genuine educational quality cannot be separated from questions of equity and social justice—that education serving individual flourishing requires attending to the social conditions enabling or constraining that flourishing. By combining philosophical analysis with critical social perspective, this article demonstrates that education must balance individual development with social responsibility, preserve cultural heritage while enabling progressive change, and pursue excellence while ensuring equity. The conclusion synthesizes these themes, proposing principles for educational reform that honor education's intrinsic value while addressing its role in creating more just, democratic, and sustainable societies. This integrated approach offers both theoretical understanding and practical guidance for educators, policymakers, and communities working toward education that genuinely serves all students rather than perpetuating existing advantages and disadvantages.