Democracy and Education · Chapter
Education and Communication explained
Dewey argues that society exists through transmission and communication, not merely physical proximity or shared work.
What happens
Dewey argues that society exists through transmission and communication, not merely physical proximity or shared work. Communication is the means by which individuals come to share common aims, beliefs, and understandings, and it is inherently educative for both sender and receiver. True social life requires communication that modifies attitudes and fosters shared purposes, distinguishing genuine community from mere mechanical cooperation. The chapter emphasizes that teaching and learning are essential for societal continuity, and that the process of living together itself educates by enlarging experience and stimulating reflection.
Themes in this chapter
Social Function of Education
Dewey asserts that society continues to exist through transmission and communication, and that all genuine social life is educative, highlighting the social function of education beyond formal schooling.
Education as Life and Growth
The chapter illustrates that communication educates by enlarging and enlightening experience, stimulating imagination, and creating responsibility, aligning with the view of education as a continuous process of growth through shared life.
Experience and Learning by Doing
Dewey emphasizes that formulating experience for communication changes one's own attitude and deepens understanding, reflecting the principle that learning occurs through active engagement and reflection on experience.
Key passages
“Society not only continues to exist by transmission, by communication, but it may fairly be said to exist in transmission, in communication.”
Society is sustained and actually consists in the ongoing processes of transmission and communication.
Dewey establishes communication as the fundamental medium of social existence.
“There is more than a verbal tie between the words 'common,' 'community,' and 'communication.'”
The words 'common,' 'community,' and 'communication' are deeply connected in meaning.
Dewey highlights the linguistic and conceptual link between shared understanding and social life.
“To be a recipient of a communication is to have an enlarged and changed experience.”
Receiving communication expands and alters one's experience.
Communication is inherently educative for the receiver.
“Try the experiment of communicating, with fullness and accuracy, some experience to another, especially if it be somewhat complicated, and you will find your own attitude toward your experience changing.”
If you attempt to communicate a complex experience fully and accurately, you will notice your own perspective on that experience shifts.
The act of communicating also transforms the communicator's understanding.
“All communication is like art.”
Every instance of communication shares qualities with artistic expression.
Dewey draws a parallel between communication and art, emphasizing creativity and formulation.