This article aims at expanding transformation theory through the work of the philosopher Richard Rorty. His concept of redescription allows us to distinguish between good learning and transformative learning and to counteract the critique of conceptional looseness. In addition, Rorty’s thesis of contingency and his notion of irony are going to be explored in respect to their implications for transformative learning theory.
ArcillaR. V. (1993). Contingency in rorty’s philosophy. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 12, 201–203.
2.
ArcillaR. V. (2002). Why aren’t philosophers and educators speaking to each other?Educational Theory, 52, 1–11.
3.
BernsteinR. J. (2016). Ironic life. Malden, MA: Polity Press.
4.
BrookfieldS. (2000). Transformative learning as ideology critique. In MezirowJ. (Ed.), Learning as transformation. Critical perspectives on a theory in progress (pp. 125–148). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
5.
CollardS.LawM. (1989). The limits of perspective transformation. A critique of Mezirow’s theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 39, 99–107.
6.
CrantonP. (2000). Individual differences and transformative learning. In MezirowJ. (Ed.), Learning as transformation. Critical perspectives on a theory in progress (pp. 181–204). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
7.
CrantonP. (2006). Understanding and promoting transformative learning. A guide for educators of adults. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
8.
CrantonP.TaylorE. W. (2012). Transformative learning theory. Seeking a more unified theory. In TaylorE. W.CrantonP. (Eds.), The handbook of transformative learning. Theory, research, and practice (pp. 3–20). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
9.
DirkxJ. M. (2012). Self-formation and transformative learning: A response to “calling transformative learning into question: Some mutinous thoughts,” by Michael Newman. Adult Education Quarterly, 62, 399–405.
10.
EastonP.MonkmanK.MilesR. (2009). Breaking out of the egg: Methods of transformative learning in rural West Africa. In MezirowJ.TaylorE. W. (Eds.), Transformative learning in practice. Insights from community, workplace, and higher education (pp. 227–239). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
11.
HabermasJ. (1971). Knowledge and human interest. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
12.
HabermasJ. (1981). Theorie des kommunikativen handelns. Frankfurt, Germany: Suhrkamp Verlag.
13.
HabermasJ. (1984a). The theory of communicative action (Vol. 1). Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
14.
HabermasJ. (1984b). Vorstudien und ergänzungen zur theorie des kommunikativen handelns. Frankfurt, Germany: Suhrkamp Verlag.
15.
HabermasJ. (1985). Die neue unübersichtlichkeit. kleine politische schriften V. Frankfurt, Germany: Suhrkamp Verlag.
16.
HabermasJ. (1987). The theory of communicative action (Vol. 2). Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
17.
KeganR. (2000). What “form” transforms? A constructive-developmental approach to transformative learning. In MezirowJ. (Ed.), Learning as transformation. Critical perspectives on a theory in progress (pp. 35–69). San Francisco, MA: Jossey-Bass.
18.
MeyerS. R. (2009). Promoting personal empowerment with women in east Harlem through journaling and coaching. In MezirowJ.TaylorE. W. (Eds.), Transformative learning in practice. Insights from community, workplace, and higher education (pp. 216–226). San Francisco, MA: Jossey-Bass.
19.
MezirowJ. (1978a). Education for perspective transformation. Women’s re-entry programs in community colleges. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
MezirowJ. (1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, The Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series.
22.
MezirowJ. (1995). Transformation theory of adult learning. In WeltonM. R. (Ed.), Empowerment and school reform. In defense of the lifeworld. Critical Perspectives On a adult learning (pp. 39–70). Albany: State University of New York Press.
23.
MezirowJ. (2000). Learning to think like an adult: Core concepts of transformation theory. In MezirowJ. (Ed.), Learning as transformation. Critical perspectives on a theory in progress (pp. 3–33). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
24.
MezirowJ. (2012). Learning to think like an adult: Core concepts of transformation theory. In TaylorE. W.CrantonP. (Eds.), The handbook of transformative learning: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 73–95). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
25.
MezirowJ.TaylorE. W. (2009). Preface. In MezirowJ.TaylorE. W. (Eds.), Transformative learning in practice. Insights from community, workplace, and higher education (pp. XI–XIV). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
26.
NewmanM. (2012). Calling transformative learning into question: Some mutinous thoughts. Adult Education Quarterly, 62, 36–55.
RortyR. (1989). Contingency, irony, and solidarity. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
29.
RortyR. (1992). Kontingenz, ironie und solidarität. Frankfurt, Germany: Suhrkamp.
30.
TaylorE. W. (1997). Building upon the theoretical debate. A critical review of the empirical studies of Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 48, 34–59.
31.
TaylorE. W. (1998). The theory and practice of transformative learning: A critical review. ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education (Information Series Nr. 374).