John Dewey, one of America's greatest popular philosophers and educators, emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the vital role education should play.

In this progressive work, written more than 80 years ago, Dewey, recognizing that we are born with the ability to think, argues that the educator's fundamental role is to train us to think well. At a time when America is lamenting the lack of solid training in the sciences at the elementary and secondary levels, Dewey's enthusiastic correlation between the scientific mind and the natural attitude of childhoodmarked by curiosity, imagination, and the love of experimental inquiryoffers a refreshing and optimistic perspective. He demonstrates how an appreciation of this correlation and a recognition of its value in educational practice can promote individual happiness and reduce social waste.