This book focuses on the language of proofs, argument and rhetoric in educational research. It also explores the language of particular debates significant to the wider educational context, such as the language of goals, parenting, and citizenship.

This book focuses on the language of educational research as well as on the language of education. It conceives both as social practices and investigates how rhetoric plays a part in the complex process of historically situated argumentation. The book aims to answer such questions as: 'What is the nature of the arguments and the kinds of sources one relies on?' and 'What kind of reasoning is offered to convince practitioners?' Taking postmodern criticism seriously, the contributors argue that the scholar or researcher cannot indulge in relativism or be satisfied with a description of particular cases. Instead, theoreticians as well as practitioners have to engage in sound thinking and dialogue. The chapters in this volume highlight relevant characteristics of the language of educational research. In addition, attention is paid to the language of particular debates which figure prominently in the wider educational context, such as the language of goals, of parenting, citizenship and capability.

Provocative and original as it challenges prevailing ideas about the 'application' of philosophy and history of education Demonstrates in a unique way how philosophical and historical approaches are relevant for the practice and theory of education Takes the debate of the historical and philosophical complexities and constraints of the discourse of educational research a step further

Inhalt
Rhetoric and Argument in the Language of Education and of Educational Research.- Beyond Arguments and Ideas: Languages of Education.- Sources in the Making of Histories of Education: Proofs, Arguments, and Other Forms of Reasoning from the Historian's Workplace.- Educational Formalism and the Language of Goals in American Education, Educational Reform, and Educational History.- The Language of Education and the Language of Educational Research: The Knowledge Economy, Citizenship and Subjectivation.- Parenting in a Technological Age.- Capability and the Language of Educational Research.- A Rhetoric for Educational Research.- Arguments and Proofs About Arguments and Proofs.- Evidence and Argumentation in Educational Research.- Half a Language: Listening in the City of Words.- Revisiting Achilles' Sadness that No Method Can Be Found.- Reasoning from Educational Research to Policy.