The purpose of this paper is to explain the relationship of Mortimer Adler's Paideia Proposal to John Dewey's "progressive" educational philosophy; to demonstrate Adler's and Dewey's philosophical similarities; and to discuss the impact and implications of their works on public school curriculum design ideology. Two common denominators are found in both Adler's and Dewey's writing: They agree that schools should promote cultural integration, and schools should search for a means to avoid traditional patterns of elitism based on European models. In disussing this common philosophical framework under which Adler and Dewey base their assumptions, the text mentions the works of Robert Hutchins and Richard Rorty to designate the century old conflict between educators who favor a preponderance of liberal arts courses and those who favor a greater emphasis on science and technology courses in the public school curriculum. (JAM)