Philosophical Perspective World Philosophies

Philosophy and Education Education is inextricably intertwined with a passion to understand. Both philosophy and education are vitally concerned with a search for truth. By its very name education calls teachers “to lead from ignorance.” Philosophy compels teachers to lead students in a direction that is meaningful and of most worth. Johnson, J. Foundations of American Education, p

Doctrine v. Philosophy Answers Questions Doctrine v. Philosophy Answers Questions Divine Potential Divine Potential Eternal, absolute truth Eternal, absolute truth What is your relationship to a higher being? What is the nature of truth?

The word philosophy denotes a “love of wisdom” and a continual search to find wisdom.

Three Branches of Philosophy The search for wisdom leads to many questions. These three branches represent types of questions that philosophers traditionally ask. Metaphysics: What is the nature of reality? Metaphysics: What is the nature of reality? Epistemology: What is the nature of knowledge? Epistemology: What is the nature of knowledge? Axiology: What is the nature of values? Axiology: What is the nature of values?

Metaphysics Questions What is real? What is real? Is there a spiritual realm of existence? Is there a spiritual realm of existence? What is the origin of the universe? What is the origin of the universe? What is the purpose of life? What is the purpose of life? Do humans have free will? Do humans have free will? Is the universe rationally designed or meaningless? Is the universe rationally designed or meaningless? Is human nature spiritual or physical? Is human nature spiritual or physical?

Epistemology Questions How do we know what we know? How do we know what we know? On what authority do we base our claims to truth? On what authority do we base our claims to truth? Is truth permanent or changing? Is truth permanent or changing? Does knowledge come from divine revelation, our own minds, scientific evidence, or another source? Does knowledge come from divine revelation, our own minds, scientific evidence, or another source?

Axiology Questions What are desirable values? What are desirable values? What is beautiful? What is beautiful? When does the end justify any means of achieving? When does the end justify any means of achieving? Are values absolute or relative? Are values absolute or relative? What does “family values” mean? What does “family values” mean? My mother wants me to be good – what does good mean? My mother wants me to be good – what does good mean?

Philosphy and Theory IdealismSocial Reconstructionism IdealismSocial Reconstructionism RealismBehaviorism / Essentialism RealismBehaviorism / Essentialism Neo ThomismPerennialism Neo ThomismPerennialism PragmatismProgressivism PragmatismProgressivism ExistentialismExistentialism ExistentialismExistentialism

Idealism Is considered the oldest philosophy of Western culture, dating back to ancient Greece and the time of Plato. For the idealist, the world of the mind, ideas, and reason is primary. Metaphysics  Universal truths present but latent in our mind  Nothing is real except for the idea in someone’s mind.  Two divisions of reality – apparent and real Epistemology  Inductive and deductive logic  Intuition as a dimension of knowing  The search for truth Axiology  Order as a basic principle of values  Values are discovered via intuition  Values are absolute

Idealism: Reality is spiritual, it does not change. Reality is spiritual, it does not change. To know is to think and rethink truths and ideas. To know is to think and rethink truths and ideas. Values are absolute and eternal, and I am working to achieve those ends. Values are absolute and eternal, and I am working to achieve those ends. Search for truth through ideas rather than through the messy world of matter. Reading and writing emphasized more than science. Search for truth through ideas rather than through the messy world of matter. Reading and writing emphasized more than science. Education is transformation. Ideas can change lives. The more we know, the better we are. Education is transformation. Ideas can change lives. The more we know, the better we are. All problems have roots in past. (Study past to see how forbearers dealt with them) All problems have roots in past. (Study past to see how forbearers dealt with them)

Idealism Applied: The teacher will lecture from time to time when necessary. The teacher will lecture from time to time when necessary. Teacher will most often teach using Plato’s dialectic approach: Questioning, discussion, analyze, synthesize, and apply what has been taught to contemporary society. Teacher will most often teach using Plato’s dialectic approach: Questioning, discussion, analyze, synthesize, and apply what has been taught to contemporary society. Classics (literary masterpieces, past civilizations). Classics (literary masterpieces, past civilizations). Focus on the “Three R’s”: Focus on the “Three R’s”: –Reading –Writing –Arithmetic

Realism Like idealism, is one of the oldest philosophies of Western culture dating back to ancient Greece and the time of Aristotle. The universe exists whether or not the mind perceives it. The world of things is superior to the world of ideas. Metaphysics  Reality exists independent of and external to our minds  Objects consist of two dimensions: matter and form  The person as a sensing and rational being Epistemology  Direct sensing  The scientific method  Logical Systematic approach to the discovery of knowledge Axiology  We can estimate value through knowledge  Importance of following natural or moral law  Happiness by cultivating potentiality for excellence

Realism: Reality is composed of matter. It is fixed. Reality is composed of matter. It is fixed. Natural law. Natural law. Knowledge is obtainable through research. Knowledge is obtainable through research. I can obtain knowledge through my senses (touch, see, hear, feel, smell). I can obtain knowledge through my senses (touch, see, hear, feel, smell). Values are governed by natural laws. I can study and research to figure them out. Values are governed by natural laws. I can study and research to figure them out. Matter exists, independent of ideas. Matter exists, independent of ideas. Syllogism (example): Syllogism (example): –All men are mortal Socrates is a man Therefore, Socrates is mortal. Understand ideas through study of world matter. Understand ideas through study of world matter.

Realism Applied: Scientific Method Scientific Method Lecture, Question and Answer. Lecture, Question and Answer. Science, Math, Reading, Writing, and Humanities Science, Math, Reading, Writing, and Humanities Standards, Achievement Standards, Achievement Behavioral Objectives Behavioral Objectives

Neo- Thomism Neo-Thomism dates to the time of St. Thomas Aquinas ( ). Aquinas attempted to bridge the dualism of idealism and realism that had separated philosophic thought up to his time. For the neo-Thomist, God exists and can be known through faith and reason. Metaphysics  God as the pure being  Human beings as rational beings with souls  Human beings as modeled after God Epistemology  Truths of revelations accepted on faith  Truths of science arrived at by rational observation  Hierarchy of knowing – scientific, analytical, and mystical Axiology  Goodness follows reason  Intellect is perceiver of beauty

Neo-Thomism: Neo-Thomism (Theistic Realism) fusion of Greek rationality (Realism) and Christian Theology Neo-Thomism (Theistic Realism) fusion of Greek rationality (Realism) and Christian Theology Good Life (Happiness) found in the presence of God Good Life (Happiness) found in the presence of God Revelation recorded in the Bible is authoritative source of truth Revelation recorded in the Bible is authoritative source of truth Teaching as vocation Teaching as vocation Distinguish between education and school Distinguish between education and school Universal human rights and responsibilities supercede culturally relative truth and values Universal human rights and responsibilities supercede culturally relative truth and values Theory of perennialism Theory of perennialism

Neo-Thomism Applied: Religious and character education. Religious and character education. Many private religious schools. Many private religious schools. Learning by study and also by faith Learning by study and also by faith God is a worthy source of knowledge God is a worthy source of knowledge

Pragmatism Developed in 20 th century America with proponents such as William James ( ) and John Dewey ( ). Philosophy needed to to be applied to solving human problems. Success judged by the consequences of actions. Metaphysics  Changing universe where the human situation was not to transcend experience but rather to use it to solve problems. Given uncertainty, our quest is to control and direct change so far as possible. Epistemology  Truth is a tentative assertion derived from experience  Intelligence is socially built as people share experience in solving common problems.  Intelligence is the ability to define and solve problems. Axiology  Moral relativity  Values arise from human responses to varying environmental situations.

Pragmatism: Reality is based upon my own experience. Truth is in my own mind. I make truth. Reality is based upon my own experience. Truth is in my own mind. I make truth. Knowing is a result of my experience. Knowing is a result of my experience. Values are depending on the situation. Depend on my experience. Values are depending on the situation. Depend on my experience. Discovering solutions to problems in present day terms. Discovering solutions to problems in present day terms. –Problem+Speculative Thought+Action+Results Environment and Experience Environment and Experience Goal of education: Growth. Goal of education: Growth.

Pragmatism Applied: Start with the needs and interests of the child in the classroom, allow the child to participate in planning his or her course of study, employ project method or group learning, and depend heavily on experiential learning. Start with the needs and interests of the child in the classroom, allow the child to participate in planning his or her course of study, employ project method or group learning, and depend heavily on experiential learning. Teacher is not an authoritarian figure; More like a cheerleader. Teacher is not an authoritarian figure; More like a cheerleader. Teacher encourages, plans, questions, and offers suggestions. Teacher encourages, plans, questions, and offers suggestions. Individual and groups. Individual and groups. Children could converse quietly with one another, could stand up and stretch if warranted, and could pursue independent study or group work. Children could converse quietly with one another, could stand up and stretch if warranted, and could pursue independent study or group work.

Existentialism Metaphysics  Reality through personal choice  Each person chooses their course, and creates meaning of his or her own existence. Epistemology  Individual responsible for constructing own knowledge  Validity of knowledge determined by value and meaning to the individual Axiology  Personal freedom and individual responsibility  Individual subjectivity  Wide-awakeness

Existentialism: Individuals are placed on this earth alone and must make some sense of the chaos the encounter. Individuals are placed on this earth alone and must make some sense of the chaos the encounter. Language is important. Language is important. Focus on needs of individual (cognitively and affectively). Focus on needs of individual (cognitively and affectively). Education liberates individual from chaotic world. Education liberates individual from chaotic world.

Existentialism Applied: Teacher student relationship is personal. Teacher student relationship is personal. Humanities, Literature, Art, Drama, and Music Humanities, Literature, Art, Drama, and Music “Wide Awakeness” “Wide Awakeness” Problems and possibilities Problems and possibilities