ABSTRACT
Competition still has a useful role to play in educational practice as a whole, but not in its current form, produced by educational policies inspired by neoliberal ideology. It needs a renewed formula. This is sought in liberal education, in which competition has long occupied a prominent place, understood as a means to noble ends. The philosophical foundation of liberal education (augmented throughout history by various schools of thought, including the philosophy of freedom) allows us to argue today in favour of civilised competition. This requires the introduction of additional concepts, such as mastery and noble or ultimate goals of education, as well as references to cooperation and self-improvement. In conclusion, this chapter presents formulated criteria for civilised competition.
