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From the general to the organic intellect: reflections on the concepts of connective specialization and the curriculum of the future

Spours, K; (2017) From the general to the organic intellect: reflections on the concepts of connective specialization and the curriculum of the future. In: Guile, D and Lambert, D and Reiss, M, (eds.) Sociology, Curriculum Studies and Professional Knowledge. (pp. 202-218). Routledge: London, UK. Green open access

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Abstract

This chapter engages with Michael’s work on ’specialisation’ and different ‘futures’ of education by applying perspectives, not from within sociology but from without through the theoretical legacies of the Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci. Dimensions of his political theory – hegemony, common sense/good sense and the role of intellectuals – are reworked in the conditions of the 21st century to create the concept of the ‘organic intellect’. This multi-dimensional framework, comprising ‘connective specialisation’ and ‘ethico-political consciousness’, is used to reflect on Michael’s approach to the ‘curriculum of the future’ – known in his later work as Future 3. From the perspective of the Organic Intellect, the latter part of the chapter outlines six challenges to encourage Michael to move beyond some of the constraints of his later work. In particular, I argue that Michael’s current focus on the role of subject specialization could be enriched by revisiting his earlier concept of connective specialization that has new meaning due to the tensions between the ‘verticalities’ of neoliberal economic and political life and the ‘horizonalities’ of emergent radical civil society. The chapter concludes by suggesting that the six challenges constitute an invitation to Michael to move from deep within sociology towards its boundaries and to engage with the world of modern political economy – a shift that could open up his fourth intellectual period.

Type: Book chapter
Title: From the general to the organic intellect: reflections on the concepts of connective specialization and the curriculum of the future
ISBN-13: 9781138675834
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.4324/9781315560410
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315560410
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: general intellect, connective specialisation, curriculum of the future
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Education, Practice and Society
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1537694
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