ABSTRACT
In the Conclusion, I outline how the concept of aspiration can contribute to some current debates in educational theory. I discuss three central areas: the discussion of education as “initiation,” the debates concerning civic education in times of deep polarization, and the various defenses of critical thinking in education. In demonstrating the contribution that aspiration can make in each of these areas, I hope to show that aspiration is a crucial part of a humane and liberal education, one that—to borrow from Nietzsche—helps students become who they are.
