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Democratic Education and Gratitude

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Abstract

In this chapter, we give an account of gratitude in relation to education. By highlighting the vagueness of the concept of gratitude, we question whether it might be plausible to consider gratitude as a moral obligation, a social convention or a political obligation in relation to the state. By leaning on Derrida’s conception of friendship, we argue that gratitude cannot be gratitude, if it is not extended spontaneously and without any obligation. Gratitude, therefore is unconditional, and as such does not imply any reciprocity. Such an idea of gratitude impacts democratic education in a way whereby people engage with one another without the condition of relation.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education Policy Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Nuraan Davids

  2. Faculty of Education, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Yusef Waghid

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  1. Nuraan Davids
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  2. Yusef Waghid
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Correspondence to Nuraan Davids .

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Davids, N., Waghid, Y. (2019). Democratic Education and Gratitude. In: Democratic Education and Muslim Philosophy. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30056-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30056-2_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-30055-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-30056-2

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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