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Lookup NU author(s): Professor James Tooley
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This paper challenges Richard Pring's suggestion that parents using private education may be undermining the desire for social justice and equality, using recent arguments of Adam Swift as a springboard. Swift's position on the banning of private schools, which uses a Rawlsian 'veil of ignorance' argument, is explored, and it is suggested that, if equality of opportunity is a major aim, it does not go far enough by permitting parental partiality. If the only alternative is a Platonic state, then this may be acceptable. But a neglected third scenario, drawing on the insights of Adam Smith, shows 'self-love' to be a valuable social virtue, leading to a more favourable resolution of the 'paradox of the shipwreck' than that explored by Swift. Pointers are given to evidence from developing countries and a more detailed 'veil of ignorance' argument to support this case. © 2007 Journal of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain.
Author(s): Tooley J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Philosophy of Education
Year: 2007
Volume: 41
Issue: 4
Pages: 727-741
Print publication date: 01/11/2007
ISSN (print): 0309-8249
ISSN (electronic): 1467-9752
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9752.2007.00599.x
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9752.2007.00599.x
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