A Cultural Philosophy Analysis Of Studies On Curriculum Essence

The essence of curriculum is one of the basic issues in curriculum studies. Curriculum conception influences its development, implementation and evaluation. Researchers want to grasp the universal essence of curriculum by asking "what is it" or "what it should be". But the numerous and complicated answers disturb us. In order to appeal more social participation in curriculum studies, it is necessary to search our conscience for the right solution to the problem.In the views of cultural philosophy, people make the world and the culture; therefore, curriculum is not only a material but also a cultural product. To clarify the essence of curriculum, we can analyze its existence from genetic perspective by looking into the problems arose in curriculum studies. The essence of curriculum is exactly behind curriculum studies themselves.According to prior studies, a two-level model of curriculum existence is constructed based on three dimensions. The two levels include the existence of substance and the existences of space-time, while the three dimensions are existential-personal, ends-means and plan and extra-plan.As for the existence of substance, the supporters of existential value debate with thesupporters of personal value on two questions--"What knowledge is of most worth" and"How to organize the knowledge" , which leads to the shift of concentration from substantial value to the functional value and the generation of new study field, including integrated curriculum, hidden curriculum and so on. At the mean while, existential and personal values achieve a new harmony, i.e., Culture, knowledge and experience has become three-in-one.As for the existence of space-time, curriculum is ongoing the shifting from "plan "to "extra-plan" dimension. Prior research always "froze" the flow of time into spatialization. With the researchers and teachers' struggle for the participation in curriculum development, the fractalstructure of curriculum is appeared. This struggle finally facilitates the studies on curriculum implementation and null curriculum. The same trend appears even in curriculum evaluation; and assessment area is claimed instead of evaluation era.There does not exist a universal curriculum since any curriculum is the product of that specific epoch and embodies the spirits of that period. Only if everyone contributes to curriculum studies, the essence of curriculum can show itself. That is, the essence will emerge at the inquest. With the questions develop and extinct, human and its culture qualitify themselves gradually.At the later part of the article, a review of the curriculum studies in China has been made to explore the orientation of Chinese curriculum studies, in which trust and empower should be highlighted. This is also the way to search the essence of curriculum.