ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses education of adults in the United States as a multi-dimensional activity that finds support among various individuals and diverse groups of philosophies. It provides a new perspective on the education of adults in the United States in several ways. The chapter also provides a systematic discussion of three related significant critical abstractions in education of adults: philosophy, purpose and conceptualization. It also discusses favored themes in the field of adult education are subjected to critical analyses. The philosophical basis of education for adults seems to vary according to the providers of programs. J. Apps emphasizes the nature of the human being in his philosophical approach. Behaviorism and humanism as philosophical concepts appear to be established upon concepts of the human being. Education in the liberal tradition is usually based heavily upon the great works of literature. Progressive education has been variously described, praised and criticised in the education literature.
