--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For Dewey, the Great Community was the…" description: "\"“For Dewey, the Great Community was the basic fact of history. The individual and the soul were invalid concepts, man was truly man, not as an individu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/r-j-rushdoony-8903_dewey_for-dewey-the-great-community-was-the-ba_945305.png" --- # For Dewey, the Great Community was the basic fact of… ![“For Dewey, the Great Community was the basic fact of history. The individual and the soul were invalid concepts, man was truly man, not as an individual, but as after Aristotle, in society and supremely in the State. Thus, for Dewey, true education mean not the development of the individual in…” quote by R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/r-j-rushdoony-8903_dewey_for-dewey-the-great-community-was-the-ba_945305.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/r-j-rushdoony-8903_dewey_for-dewey-the-great-community-was-the-ba_945305.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/462/r-j-rushdoony-8903_dewey_for-dewey-the-great-community-was-the-ba_945305.png) > ““For Dewey, the Great Community was the basic fact of history. The individual and the soul were invalid concepts, man was truly man, not as an individual, but as after Aristotle, in society and supremely in the State. Thus, for Dewey, true education mean not the development of the individual in terms of learning, but his socialization. Progressive education... educates the individual in terms of particular facts of the universe without reference to God, truth, or morality.”” [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dewey sees society, not the individual, as the core of history; education should socialize people rather than develop personal intellect. **In simple terms:** Education should shape people for society, not just teach facts. Key Takeaway Focus on communal learning over individual achievement. Themes education philosophy community progressivism Mood reflective critical Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - school curricula - public policy - community projects - civic education Key Concepts socialization collectivism historical materialism Questions to Reflect On - How does communal education affect personal freedom? - Can society thrive without individual innovation? A Different Perspective May overlook personal autonomy and critical thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dewey/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [True education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-education/) ## Related quotes > [“In the main, the trouble with American education is that we have put into practice the educational philosophy expounded by John Dewey and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-m-goldwater/in-the-main-the-trouble-with-american-education-is-that-we-have-put/) [Barry M. Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-m-goldwater/) > [When I was in high school, it was sort of the peak of progressive education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-penn/when-i-was-in-high-school-it-was-sort-of-the-peak-of-progressive/) [Michael Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-penn/) > [There is, I think, no point in the philosophy of progressive education which is sounder than its emphasis upon the importance of the participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-i-think-no-point-in-the-philosophy-of-progressive-education/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Every single progressive education fad of the past thirty years has hurt poor black children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/every-single-progressive-education-fad-of-the-past-thirty-years-has/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Sending our kids in my family to private school was a big, big, big deal. And it was a giant family discussion. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/sending-our-kids-in-my-family-to-private-school-was-a-big-big-big/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [“Traditional education tended to ignore the importance of personal impulse and desire as moving springs. But this is no reason why progressive education should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/traditional-education-tended-to-ignore-the-importance-of-personal/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“The lesson for progressive education is that it requires in an urgent degree, a degree more pressing than was incumbent upon former innovators, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-lesson-for-progressive-education-is-that-it-requires-in-an-urgent/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [He wished he was with his mom in her library, where everything was safe and numbered and organized by the Dewey decimal system. Ben…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/he-wished-he-was-with-his-mom-in-her-library-where-everything-was/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“When he introduced himself as Dewey, I said, “It’s an honor to meet you Mr. Decimalsystem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-he-introduced-himself-as-dewey-i-said-it-s-an-honor-to-meet-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Part of my job is to help other kids find books, because not everyone has a keenly organized mind. Some kids could wander the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/part-of-my-job-is-to-help-other-kids-find-books-because-not-everyone/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“I personally find that for domestic purposes, the Trivial Pursuit system works better than Dewey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-personally-find-that-for-domestic-purposes-the-trivial-pursuit/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Dr. Beall gave him the first shot, followed closely by the second. He said, "I'll check for a heartbeat." I said, "You don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/dr-beall-gave-him-the-first-shot-followed-closely-by-the-second-he/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) > [“Dewey Hall was the only building on campus not made of brick, and the tornado came for it in absolute maturity, no umbilical growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-enger/dewey-hall-was-the-only-building-on-campus-not-made-of-brick-and-the/) [Leif Enger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-enger/) > [“Until one morning, one of the coldest mornings of the year, when I came in with the book cart and found Jean Hollis Clark,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/until-one-morning-one-of-the-coldest-mornings-of-the-year-when-i-came/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) > [“Dewey sent him, I thought, when I saw those eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/dewey-sent-him-i-thought-when-i-saw-those-eyes/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) ## More by R.J. Rushdoony > [People do not avoid the Bible because it is difficult to understand as much as because what they understand condemns their conscience and throws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/people-do-not-avoid-the-bible-because-it-is-difficult-to-understand/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [Humanistic law aims at saving man and remaking society. For Humanism, salvation is an act of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/humanistic-law-aims-at-saving-man-and-remaking-society-for-humanism/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [The end of an age is always a time of turmoil, war, economic catastrophe, cynicism, lawlessness and distress. But it is also an era…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/the-end-of-an-age-is-always-a-time-of-turmoil-war-economic/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [In any age, our problems are a result of sin, and the solution is faith and obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/in-any-age-our-problems-are-a-result-of-sin-and-the-solution-is-faith/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [Man lives in time but his life transcends time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/man-lives-in-time-but-his-life-transcends-time/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [All religions segregate also...every religion asserts an order of truth and every other order is regarded as a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/all-religions-segregate-also-every-religion-asserts-an-order-of-truth/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [It is significant that, as innocent babies are killed, and capital punishment is withheld from their murderers, the same men who plead for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/it-is-significant-that-as-innocent-babies-are-killed-and-capital/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [The triune God exercises total government over all things, and He requires us as His image-bearers to exercise government in Christ in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/the-triune-god-exercises-total-government-over-all-things-and-he/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [One faith, one law and one standard of justice did not mean democracy. The heresy of democracy has since then worked havoc in church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/one-faith-one-law-and-one-standard-of-justice-did-not-mean-democracy/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [It needs more than ever to be stressed that the best and truest educators are parents under God. The greatest school is the family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/it-needs-more-than-ever-to-be-stressed-that-the-best-and-truest/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [Life is rarely easy, but, with Christ our King, it is always good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/life-is-rarely-easy-but-with-christ-our-king-it-is-always-good/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [Concerning the press and politicians, the hatred for all such evangelical groups is not because of their real or fancied blunders but because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/concerning-the-press-and-politicians-the-hatred-for-all-such/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [ “\[T\]he more man accepts his limitations, the better is he enabled to know things truly.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/t-he-more-man-accepts-his-limitations-the-better-is-he-enabled-to/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [“Our character is revealed under pressure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/our-character-is-revealed-under-pressure/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [“Problems are a part of life in a fallen world, and they are necessary part of it, necessary to our testing and to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/problems-are-a-part-of-life-in-a-fallen-world-and-they-are-necessary/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) [Explore all 77 R.J. Rushdoony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) ## More Dewey quotes > [“Dewey sent him, I thought, when I saw those eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/dewey-sent-him-i-thought-when-i-saw-those-eyes/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) > [“Until one morning, one of the coldest mornings of the year, when I came in with the book cart and found Jean Hollis Clark,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/until-one-morning-one-of-the-coldest-mornings-of-the-year-when-i-came/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) > [“Dewey Hall was the only building on campus not made of brick, and the tornado came for it in absolute maturity, no umbilical growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-enger/dewey-hall-was-the-only-building-on-campus-not-made-of-brick-and-the/) [Leif Enger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-enger/) > [“When he introduced himself as Dewey, I said, “It’s an honor to meet you Mr. Decimalsystem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-he-introduced-himself-as-dewey-i-said-it-s-an-honor-to-meet-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“In the main, the trouble with American education is that we have put into practice the educational philosophy expounded by John Dewey and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-m-goldwater/in-the-main-the-trouble-with-american-education-is-that-we-have-put/) [Barry M. Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-m-goldwater/) > [He wished he was with his mom in her library, where everything was safe and numbered and organized by the Dewey decimal system. Ben…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/he-wished-he-was-with-his-mom-in-her-library-where-everything-was/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Part of my job is to help other kids find books, because not everyone has a keenly organized mind. Some kids could wander the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/part-of-my-job-is-to-help-other-kids-find-books-because-not-everyone/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“I personally find that for domestic purposes, the Trivial Pursuit system works better than Dewey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-personally-find-that-for-domestic-purposes-the-trivial-pursuit/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Dr. Beall gave him the first shot, followed closely by the second. He said, "I'll check for a heartbeat." I said, "You don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-myron/dr-beall-gave-him-the-first-shot-followed-closely-by-the-second-he/) [Vicki Myron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-myron/) > [(about organizing books in his home library, and putting a book in the "Arts and Lit non-fiction section) I personally find that for domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/about-organizing-books-in-his-home-library-and-putting-a-book-in-the/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [“Yes, I speak Dewey Decimal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-beasley/yes-i-speak-dewey-decimal/) Sandra Beasley > [Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you'd be able to find whatever you were looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/ben-wished-the-world-was-organized-by-the-dewey-decimal-system-that/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Ah, the Dewey decimal system…humankind’s single greatest achievement.” From Candace Fleming’s The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-fleming/ah-the-dewey-decimal-system-humankind-s-single-greatest-achievement/) [Candace Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-fleming/) > [You really have to get to know Dewey to dislike him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-really-have-to-get-to-know-dewey-to-dislike-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To Dewey, if brevity was the soul of wit, stagecraft was the very center of politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pietrusza/to-dewey-if-brevity-was-the-soul-of-wit-stagecraft-was-the-very/) [David Pietrusza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pietrusza/) [Browse all 25 Dewey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dewey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For Dewey, the Great Community was the basic fact of history. 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