Developing individuals is a necessity for their continued survival and effective functioning in society. Is it essential for the focus of our education to be on the development of the person? Many educators and philosophers often argue that the education system should produce individuals that will facilitate the development of the society. Society can only be enhanced or developed if there are individuals equipped with the skills necessary to fulfill this worthy mandate. The purpose of education should be to culture the mind of individuals so that they are able to accomplish all their aims in life. Thus, being productive citizens would benefit the society. How can the education system accomplish this aim? A very strong supporter of this aim being a focus of education is Hirst (1965). He posit that the development of knowledge be at the foundation of education. For Hirst education involves acquiring various forms of knowledge. These forms of knowledge include religion, philosophy, aesthetics, and empirical science among other things. Hirst also argued that students should have knowledge in depth and breadth and this is the precondition for development of rationality. .
Rationality is the trademark of a person and this involves achieving ones goals. In this an individual's mind would be developed. Development of rationality according to Hirst leads to creation of a person which comes about through education. Although the development of the person is an essential aim of education, critics often question the importance of this aim. Does acquiring the various forms of knowledge develop the individual as Hirst propose? In order to be in a position to acquire knowledge one must already be rational in the minimal sense of having the dispositions to be consistent, to assess statements on relevant considerations, and to be critical of one's beliefs (Hamm, 2005). These minimal conditions of rationality are sufficient for characterizing anyone as a person.