ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some of the educational implications of Philip Pettit’s neorepublican theory of freedom as non-domination. Victoria Costa argues that Pettit seems tempted to endorse a legalistic approach to civic education. The legalistic approach focuses civic lessons on the role that legal and political institutions have in protecting the basic liberties of citizens, and, as a result, in securing their status as equal and non-dominated. Without denying the importance of critically examining the ways in which the constitution and laws protect (and sometimes fail to protect) the basic liberties of all members of society, Costa argues that civic education should also focus on the cultivation of civic virtues. This is because in many areas of social life the law is not always the best instrument to combat domination. Civic education can make a unique and significant contribution by encouraging students to challenge and combat prejudiced views and attitudes, which in turn affect the opportunities and choices available to members of different groups in society.
