'Liberal irony' and the role of narrative forms in progressive education

This dissertation starts from the claim that critical pedagogy is currently in a state of "crisis," and drawing on the work of Richard Rorty, in particular his identity of the "liberal ironist," offers a leftist stance that the author calls "Living in Hope and History." After defending the political goal of "human solidarity," or the increasing sensitivity to the pain of others, there is an analysis of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man to reveal how fiction writers contribute to social democracy. The last chapter examines Rorty's critics and defends his version of pragmatism from the charges of "complacency" and "irresponsibility." In the conclusion the work is drawn together through the recommendation that critical pedagogues should adopt the qualities of "low cunning," or the combined commitment to remain attentive to the voices of others while staying focused on effective elements of political and social reform.