About us

The Philosophy of Education Society is an international forum that promotes the philosophic treatment of educational practice, policy and research, advances the quality of teaching the philosophy of education, and cultivates fruitful relationships between and among philosophers, philosophers of education and educators.

In November of 1940, R. Bruce Raup of Teachers College, Columbia University, circulated a letter to colleagues around the country proposing the formation of “a national group of those directly devoted to the teaching or other pursuits of philosophy of education.” Raup’s interest was in forming an association of those who were philosophers of education as a professional discipline. In his very first letter, he emphasized:

That the group consist, at least at first, of those who are philosophers of education in a technical sense, that is, possessed of working knowledge in the history of philosophy, and having given evidence of positive work done in the field; able to work with the “tools” of the field and devoted to the promotion of philosophy in and of education.

After a period of initial planning, this group convened on February 22, 1941 at the Hotel Adelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The session was entitled “A Meeting of Teachers of Philosophy of Education.” At that first meeting, the name “Philosophy of Education Society” (PES) was agreed upon and an initial charter membership of thirty-four persons was identified.

Today, the membership of PES comprises hundreds of faculty, graduate students, and other interested parties from around the globe.  PES continues to host an annual conference—dedicated to the dissemination of scholarly research related to philosophy of education—at various locations throughout North America.

PES Constitution and Bylaws
PES Policies