Prolegomena to the Discussion on Teaching Controversial Issues

Numerous articles and books focus on questions about teaching controversial issues in the classroom, these are educational agenda many countries. The modest goal of this essay is to lay necessary groundwork for a discussion study goals schools, order examine practicability achieving them reality, possible ways raising such subjects classroom. It refines adds concept “controversial issues” from particular, timely, perspective. rise “fake news” “illiberal democracy,“ including empowered illiberal subgroups liberal democratic polities demands reconsideration new delineation some major tenets proposed by previous scholarship. that here moves through three stages. first stage separates distinguishes between assertions according criteria logical positivists have coined meaningful. second proposes main criterion defining topic as controversial, epistemic-rational criterion, defined essay. third seeing subject being if it currently relevant social political life. Moreover, asserts result examination stages dependent upon context – time place which act occurs.