Self-direction, values and truth: Towards an unpostmodern re-examination

Despite its exalted status in post-war analytical educational philosophy as probably the main aim of liberal education, the basic philosophical psycho logy of autonomy or self-determination is prey to certain not widely acknow ledged conceptual difficulties, In relation to this problem, the present pa per explores different conceptions of evaluation and competing liberal and communitarian conceptions of rational choice and decision, to the ultimate end of defending a crucial connection-discerned by many ancient and modern philosophers-between rational self-direction and the possibility of objecti ve knowledge and truth.