what is praxis?Few educators speak of praxis. Those that do tend to link it to the work of Freire. Yet while praxis may not be part of many workers overt vocabulary, practice, a pale derivative, is. So what is praxis and why should educators be concerned with it?Many educators are involved with praxis - acts which shape and change the world - but it often isn't part of their vocabulary. In this short piece we examine the the notion of praxis and of 'education for use' (Lindeman 1944: 103).infedIF_4baa7aec-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e4infed is a not-for-profit site provided by the YMCA George Williams College.YMCA George Williams CollegeEducators_4baa7cae-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e4To examine the the notion of praxis and of 'education for use'_4baa7d94-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e4TruthMan must prove the truth, i.e. the reality and power, the this-sideness of his thinking in practice.... All social life is essentially practical. All mysteries which lead theory to mystics, find their rational solution in human practice and in the comprehension of this practice.... The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it. (Marx 1845 Theses on Feurbach: II, VII, XI)Praxisacts which shape and change the worldPracticePractice is often depicted as the act of doing something. It is usually contrasted to 'theory' - abstract ideas about some thing or phenomenon. In this 'theory' tends to be put on a pedestal. From theory can be derived general principles (or rules). These in turn can be applied to the problems of practice. Theory is 'real' knowledge while practice is the application of that knowledge to solve problems.PurposeIn many ways, this is a legacy of Aristotle and his three-fold classification of disciplines as theoretical, productive or practical. The basis of the distinction lies in the telos, or purpose, each serves. In brief: The purpose of a theoretical discipline is the pursuit of truth through contemplation; its telos is the attainment of knowledge for its own sake. The purpose of the productive sciences is to make something; their telos is the production of some artefact. The practical disciplines are those sciences which deal with ethical and political life; their telos is practical wisdom and knowledge. (Carr & Kemmis 1986: 32)KnowledgeThis way of separating areas of knowledge can be seen, for example, in the way that we might view 'pure maths' (theoretical), tool-making (productive), and social work training (practical).CreativityIf the form of thinking associated with theoretical activities was contemplative, the enquiry involved in productive disciplines was a 'making' action or poietike. Aristotle associated this form of thinking and doing with the work of craftspeople or artisans. Hence, the making action is not simply mechanical. It also involves some creativity. This making action is dependent upon the exercising of skill (techne). It always results from the idea, image or pattern of what the artisan wants to make.PlanningIn other words the person has a guiding plan or idea. For example, potters will have an idea of the article they want to make. While working, they may make some alterations, develop an idea and so on. But they are restricted in this by their original plan.ReasoningPractical Reasoning -- Where the productive begins with a plan or design, the practical cannot have such a concrete starting point. Instead, we begin with a question or situation. We then start to think about this situation in the light of our understanding of what is good or what makes for human flourishing. MoralityThus, for Aristotle, praxis is guided by a moral disposition to act truly and rightly; a concern to further human well being and the good life. PhronesisThis is what the Greeks called phronesis and requires an understanding of other people.WisdomPractical wisdom (phronesis) involves moving between the particular and the general. The mark of a prudent man [is] to be able to deliberate rightly about what is good and what is advantageous for himself; not in particular respects, e.g. what is good for health or physical strength, but what is conducive to the good life generally. (Aristotle 2004: 209)DeliberationIn praxis there can be no prior knowledge of the right means by which we realize the end in a particular situation. For the end itself is only specified in deliberating about the means appropriate to a particular situation (Bernstein 1983: 147). As we think about what we want to achieve, we alter the way we might achieve that. InterplayAs we think about the way we might go about something, we change what we might aim at. There is a continual interplay between ends and means. In just the same way there is a continual interplay between thought and action. ThoughtActionInterpretationThis process involves interpretation, understanding and application in 'one unified process' (Gadamer 1979: 275).UnderstandingApplicationUnityEngagementIt is something we engage in as human beings and it is directed at other human beings.Human BeingsInformationPraxis: informed, committed action -- We can now see the full quality of praxis. It is not simply action based on reflection. It is action which embodies certain qualities. These include a commitment to human well being and the search for truth, and respect for others. CommitmentWell BeingTruthRespectFreedomIt is the action of people who are free, who are able to act for themselves. Self ActionPrudenceMoreover, praxis is always risky. It requires that a person 'makes a wise and prudent practical judgement about how to act in this situation' (Carr and Kemmis 1986: 190).JudgementPracticalityDialectic'In pedagogy', Gadotti (1996) writes, 'the practice is the horizon, the aim of the theory. Therefore the educationalist lives the instigating dialectic between his or her daily life - the lived school and the projected school - which attempts to inspire a new school'DialogueAs Paul Taylor (1993) has written, we can say that word and action, action and reflection, theory and practice are all facets of the same idea. This action is not merely the doing of something, what Freire describes as activism and Aristotle as poiesis. Poiesis is about acting upon, doing to: it is about working with objects. Praxis, however, is creative: it is other-seeking and dialogic. praxis praxis praxis praxisAction[Take] informed, committed action_4baa7e66-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e4Well BeingCommit to human well being_4baa7f60-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e41TruthSearch for truth_4baa8046-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e42RespectRespect others_4baa812c-d744-11e4-89bd-ab5bb267d4e432015-03-30http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-praxis.htmOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net