Providing a comprehensive introduction to the philosophy of higher education, through the lens of ecological realism, this text presents an imaginative way through the field and leads it into new areas.

Ronald Barnett is Emeritus Professor of Higher Education, University College London Institute of Education, UK.

Part One: Foundations 1. The philosophy of higher education 2. Higher education and university: conflicts on the three planes 3. Values and higher education, and ethical evolution 4. Knowledge and truth: matters of interest Part II: Key concepts 5. Research: towards an ecological transdisciplinarity 6. Culture: sighting a culture of constructive argument (CCA) 7. Academic freedom - and academic responsibility 8. Thought and reason - and their dilemmas Part III: Teaching, learning and the student 9. Teaching: a provocative matter 10. Curriculum - making it explicit 11. Being a student: a committed uncertainty 12. Critical thinking: the three crazy escalators Part IV: The university as an institution 13. The place of the university 14. The spirit of the university 15. Academic leadership and management - and keeping clear water between them 16. Time, space and the digital university Part V: Higher education and the world 17. Higher education and the university: two very public matters 18. The lure of engagement: traps for the unwary 19. Social justice - and onwards to ecological justice 20. Beyond the Anthropocene