This book introduces Gottfried's Mergner's social and educational theory to non-German readers for the first time. Following Marcel van der Linden's introduction, which maps the major influences on and themes in Mergner's work, the anthology presents a collection of Mergner's publications in non-chronological order. The anthology begins and ends with Mergner's latest publications, both of which present his 'theory of the social limits to learning'. The intervening chapters are a collection of historical and current case studies, philosophical reflections and critical commentaries.