"Life-oriented theory" closely links the purpose of education with the life of the educated. They either put forward the theory that copying education should prepare for future life, or put forward the theory that education should adapt to life, because education is life itself. The typical representatives in this respect are Spencer and Dewey.

Spencer was a famous British philosopher, sociologist and educator in the middle and late19th century. For the first time, he clearly put forward the idea of "education prepares for life" (also known as "education preparation theory").

Dewey, a famous American educator, was dissatisfied with Spencer's educational view of preparing for a perfect life, and put forward the famous viewpoints of "education is life", "education is growth" and "education is society".