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Thens Within Now

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Be(com)ing Human

Part of the book series: Educational Futures Rethinking Theory and Practice ((EDUFUT,volume 56))

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Abstract

In this chapter, I shall problematize the boundaries of the human, arguing that ‘being human’ is not a clearly defined or definable state of being. It is more strongly a normative than a descriptive concept. To be fully human is an aspiration by adults, yet both children and adults are fully human insofar as they work towards attaining full humanity, which cannot be attained. Humanity is therefore as much a regulative ideal as a species descriptor: like ‘beauty’, ‘justice’, ‘truth’ or ‘perfection’, it is regarded as worth striving for even though it can never be fully attained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Bath, UK

    Andrew Stables

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  1. Andrew Stables
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  1. University of Bath, UK

    Andrew Stables

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© 2012 Sense Publishers

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Stables, A. (2012). Thens Within Now. In: Stables, A. (eds) Be(com)ing Human. Educational Futures Rethinking Theory and Practice, vol 56. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-997-8_3

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