Indoctrination: What is it to Indoctrinate someone?

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Indoctrination: What is it to Indoctrinate someone?

Date Published: 16 January 2022
Publisher: 1000-Word Philosophy
Author: Chris Ranalli
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Schools are supposed to educate students by teaching them important facts and skills.

However, schools are sometimes accused of indoctrinating students: e.g., coercing them into believing religious views, failing to present widely-accepted scientific facts, or promoting controversial moral or political views.[1]

But what is indoctrination anyway? Is it always bad? If so, why? Might some indoctrination be necessary, unavoidable, or even good?

This essay overviews notable answers to these questions.

This project is funded by:

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
European Research Council
European Union