Die wetenskapsteoretiese grondslae van die verkeersveiligheidsopvoedkunde

Abstract

The problem addressed in this research is: "What is the 'place' of traffic safety education within the epistemological area of the science of education?" The primary aim of this research has been to determine, by means of scientific-theoretical reflection, whether traffic safety education is an applied science within the field of education, covering all acknowledged sub-disciplines of education; whether it is an independent discipline; or whether it is a component or a theme of socio-education. As indicated in the introductory chapter, this research basically covers three sections, Le. the anthropological foundation of traffic safety education (and its science), the subject-philosophical, and the scientific-theoretical bases of traffic safety education. The above-mentioned three facets are distinguishable (although in continuous coherence) and discussed in successive chapters with emphasis on the scientific-theoretical nature of traffic safety education. In chapter 2 the research focuses on man and his/her involvement in traffic. Apart from a few non-christian views on man and their implications for traffic safety education and its science, man as "phenomenon" is studied from a Christian-anthropological perspective under the following headings: - Road traffic as product of human culture. - Man as communicating or social being. - The question concerning human safety in road traffic. - Man as "treasurer" of the phenomenon of traffic safety. Before traffic safety education can be guaged scientific-theoretically, it is imperative to analyse its field of work - that is, traffic safety education - subject-philosophically. Chapter 3 deals with fundamental questions concerning the activity, operation and field of work within traffic safety education. Within a subject-philosophical approach this study further reflects upon the role of education in the attainment of traffic safety.