This study, first published in 1973, examines the principles that lie behind educational dilemmas, and helps to clarify the difficulties of explanation, justification and practical action in the educational system. The author explores various key concepts in the education process, such as Intelligence, Equal Opportunity, Knowledge and Selection. She shows that different and often contrasting interpretations of these concepts imply certain assumptions about the nature of man, the genesis and knowledge, the education process and its relation to society. This title will be of interest to students of sociology and education.