Tag Archives: reification

Resisting classification

Posted on December 23, 2021 by Eddie Playfair

The way we use categories doesn’t do justice to the multi-layered complexity of the world. It’s often a short cut to sweeping assumptions and flawed policy. Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Capital as metaphor

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Eddie Playfair

The economy of ideas #4 We talk about social capital, cultural capital, creative capital, even ‘emotional capital’. It seems that capital can stand in for almost every human capacity. Why is this? Given its role as a real currency, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blob and anti-blob

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

‘Lump and label’ name-calling is a poor substitute for real debate in education as elsewhere. The use of the term ‘blob’ is a classic example of ‘lump and label’ thinking or inappropriate use of agglomeration and reification. A wide and … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Education policy, Politics, Science | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments