Freire’s Dream of a Free and Inclusive Democratic Society

What is the potential business of theory, and of educational philosophy in particular, to deal with democratic and social justice problems? How does theory work to expose hidden contradictions and asymmetrical relations of power and privilege? And how can theory serve to liberate people from oppression, domination and marginalisation? This chapter builds on the vital link previously made between criticality, democracy and social justice. I assess the significance of Paulo Freire’s pedagogical and political perspectives on critical beings naming the world and the word. I highlight how his notion of liberation, his desire to bring about a more humane and just world, is dependent on the oppressors and the oppressed working together. I unpack his claim that reading the world precedes reading the word. And I explore the Freirean portrayal of Christ as an exemplary teacher and reformer.