Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next
 |
Creative
Empowerment and Liberal Education
Tuesday,
28 May 2008
Siegfried Herzog discusses the objectives of a liberal
education: acquisition of basic skills, development
of a critical mindset and a passion to learn and
the instruction of values and sensibilities. He
then examines how open education, the growing worldwide
movement to develop free educational content, fulfils
these. However, he cautions against thinking
that open education is the cure all for the problems
of the educational system. Indeed this new method
will revolutionize the system, but the guidance
of a competent teacher continues to be important.
Learning is a complex process and differs among
individuals. But for most people, the personal
interaction with a teacher has been and will probably
remain vital. The best scenario is therefore open
education under the direction of a capable teacher.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Institutions
and Economic Development
Tuesday,
17 April 2008
1993 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics laureate
Douglass
C. North speaks on the formation of human societies.
Restricted social orders continue to be the norm
in most of the contemporary world. These limited
access societies are ruled by elites through monopolies
or rents. These coalitions are based on personal
ties, hence he calls such societies “natural”
states. However, a number of countries have developed
into open access societies where competition in
economic and political markets, instead of rent-creation,
sustains civil order.
The challenge therefore is how to transit from
a limited access society into an open access one.
He explains that the answer is not deliberately
imposing the characteristics of a free society
on a restricted one. What is needed is to encourage
a limited access society towards maturity by working
within the constraints of its cultural heritage,
informal norms and belief systems.
Read more on the natural state here.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
The
Role of Civil Society in Philippine Democracy
Tuesday, 31 March 2008
National Institute for Policy Studies President
Mario Taguiwalo
explains the economic and social background
that gives birth to Philippine civil society. He
expounds on its rise during the Marcos dictatorship
and its continued flourishing in restored democracy.
He speaks of civil society as the central channel
of engaging politicians due to the lack of ideologically
based political parties in the country.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
 |
Liberalism
and Morality: Capitalism and Christian Values
Tuesday, 05 February 2008
The final part of this installment has Fr. Robert
Sirico touching upon the correlation between business
ethics and corruption. He explains that personal
corruption is one reality, but that it is institutional
corruption which forces the lack of business ethics.
This occurs when the political apparatus extends
into the private sphere.
Fr. Sirico elaborates on the Church’s teaching
of subsidiarity which states that needs are best
met at the local level. Individuals have the responsibility
to address their own needs. It is only when individuals
are not able to accomplish this, that they must
look towards the next level on the ladder of social
organization. The highest level (the state) should
only intervene when there is great need, and this
intervention should only be temporary. As a result,
limiting bureaucratic interference in the private
arena would reduce corruption and make society
more efficient.
The music is provided by Dieter
Bachmann.
Send
us your comments
|
Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next
|
|
|
