Socio-Cultural Learning Theories

Abstract

L. P. Hartley’s novel The Go-Between has a stunning opening line: ‘The past is a foreign country.’ This suggests at least three readings: first, do not bother with history as it is already alien territory; second, if you visit history you can always reclaim it as your own, as one country might colonize another, imposing the victor’s version of events; and third, we must engage with history as if we were entering a foreign country—as aware and sensitive guests. By now, readers will be aware that we think it is a good idea to engage with history, to invite history in as a welcome guest and to get to know this guest through offering unconditional hospitality (the original meaning of the ‘hospital’). To move forward, medical education must be aware of where it has come from. As we suggested at the beginning of Chap. 1, it is important to articulate how dominant approaches to medical education came into being and what happened to legitimate challenges to such dominant views. This allows us to track influences of power.