PHILOSOPHICAL

FOUNDATIONS OF
EDUCATION
DR. JUDITH S.
RABACAL

Philosophy is:

A search for meaning and truth

The general beliefs and attitudes of an individual

or group
The body of principles underlying a branch of
learning or major discipline

Original Definition

Love of Wisdom

Definition was developed by Socrates

Of What Value is the

Study of Philosophy

Provide clarification for what is or has

been done by others

Provides a framework for life and our

action

Can be useful in solving educational

problems

A good mental activity

Three Major Areas of Philosophy

Metaphysics - the nature of reality

Axiology - the nature of values

Epistemology - the nature of

knowledge

Metaphysics

Concerned with theories of the nature

of reality.
Why

does the earth exist?

How

did it come into being?

Is

mankind free?

Is

there a God?

What

is real?

Metaphysics

Common terms used in metaphysics are:

theology
creationism
evolution
spirit
free will
atheism
Metaphysics is the area many people think
of when they hear the term philosophy.

Axiology
concerned with theories of value
Two major divisions of axiology
ethics
What is right and wrong?
What is evil and good?
aesthetics
What is beautiful and ugly?
Some common terms used that relate to
axiology are pessimism, optimism,
hedonism, egoism, and altruism.

Epistemology

Concerned with theories of

the nature of knowledge
Epistemological questions:
How

do people learn?
What knowledge is of utmost value?
What are the different types of
knowledge?
What are the educational goals of
agricultural education and extension?

Philosophical
Schools of Thought

Idealism

Realism

Pragmatism

Existentialism

Reconstructionism

IDEALISM

Idealism (Idea-ism)

Idealist believe that

ideas are the only true reality.

The material world is characterized

by change, instability, and
uncertainty; some ideas are enduring

Idealism

We should be concerned primarily

with the search for truth. Since truth
is perfect and eternal, it cannot be
found in the world of matter that is
both
imperfect
and
constantly
changing.

Methods of Idealism

Study the classics for universal truths

Mathematics (2+2=4 is an absolute

truth)

Dialectic (critical discussion)

The

dialectic looks at both sides of

an issue

Lecture is used to transmit known

truths and to stimulate thinking.

Leaders of Idealism

Socrates (469-399 BC)

Plato (427-347 BC)

St. Augustine (350-4300

Descartes (1596-1650)

Berkeley (1685-1753)

Kant (1724-1804)

Socrates

Regarded as the father of philosophy

Believed we learned through

questioning (the Socratic method)

Wrote nothing, what we know of his

views were written by his followers,
most notably Plato

Plato

A student of Socrates

Known as the father of idealism

Operated a school named

the Academy

Platos views toward

education

The state must take an active role in

educational matters
The curriculum must lead bright
students from a concern with
concrete
data
toward
abstract
thinking
Students with little ability for
abstraction should go into the
military, business and industry.

Plato

Those who demonstrate proficiency

in the dialectic would continue their
education and become philosophers
in positions of power to lead the state
toward the highest good (the
Philosopher-King)

Believed both boys

should be educated
should be equals.

and
and

girls
girls

Augustine (354-430)

Born in North Africa (Roman citizen)

Attended Roman Primary School

grammar and literature emphasized

At 16 went to Carthage and studied:

Mother - Christian, Father - Pagan

rhetoric, music,
mathematics

geometry,

During his younger

he stole, he wenched.

days

grammar,

He

lied,

Augustine. . .

Became a grammaticus in his native

town
Taught rhetoric in Carthage, Rome,
Milan
While in his 30s was converted to
Christianity, took his holy orders and
became a great evangelist and priest.
Found great favor in the church and
became a great religious leader.

Augustine

People do not create knowledge; God

has already created it,
but people can discover it
through trying to find God.

Augustines Beliefs

Women were held in low regard (this

view was incorporated into the
church and held for a thousand
years)

Only a few people possessed the

mental ability to quest for the truth.
Therefore most people should rely on
the church for knowledge.

Augustines Beliefs

Augustine used Greek writings but

began to have doubts how people
who did not know God could write
anything which could be of value to
Christians.
In 401 the Church outlawed pagan
writings such as Plato and Aristotle
(even the church leaders were not
allowed to read the
ancient literature). This continued
for 1000 years.

Augustines Beliefs
about Teaching

Encouraged the use of summaries

Believed
teachers
should
teach
through persuasion and by leading
impeccable lives.
Teachers should not expect to increase
their worldly stores through teaching.
The stick and fist were needed to
keep students in line since people
were wicked (because of Adam).

The Church and Idealism

Idealism has exerted a great amount

of influence on Christianity.

For centuries the Christian church was

the creator and protector of schooling.

Generations educated in these schools

were indoctrinated with the idealist
point of view (including early
American education).

Descartes (1596-1650)

A renown mathematician

Wrestled with the question of what

was real and did he really exist
(perhaps he was a dream). He finally
concluded:
I

think, therefore I am

Thinking and ideas are the

ultimate truth.

George Berkeley (1685-1753)

Existence is dependent upon some

mind to know it, and if there are no
minds, nothing would exist unless it
is perceived in the mind of God.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

the greatest and most difficult

problem to which a man can devote
himself is the problem of education
Education should teach students how
to think according to principles moral laws, moral ideals and
moral imperatives
Enlightenment is the goal of
education

Educational Aims of Idealism

Develop the mind

Search for true ideas

Character development

Self-realization

Educational Aims of Idealism

True education is concerned with

ideas rather than matter.

The idealists wants to give students a

broad understanding of the world in
which they live.

The Idealist and the Chair

To an idealist, the
concept of chair is
important. You could
destroy all the chairs
in the world but they
would still exist in
the mind. The idea of
a
chair
is
the
ultimate truth.

Realism

Realism

Reality, knowledge and value exist

independent of the human mind.
Trees, sticks and stones exist whether
or not there is a human mind to
perceive them.

Realism

Ideas must be subject to public

verification
must

be proven through scientific

experimentation

Science for the sake of science

Realism

Universal properties of objects

remain constant and never change,
whereas particular components do
change

Realism

Need to study nature systematically

Deductive reasoning - truth is derived

from generalizations
Earth

is the center of the universe

Leaders of Realism

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

John Locke (1632-1704)

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Ideas may be important but a proper

study of matter could lead us to
better and more distinct ideas.

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Golden Mean - a path between

extremes

Balance is key - body and mind

operate together in a balanced whole

Aquinas (1225-1274)

God created matter; therefore it must

be ok to learn about it

This view helped lead civilization out

of the dark ages, replaced the
influence of Augustine

Aquinas

Truth was passed from God to

Humans by divine revelation, but God
also
has
endowed
humans
with
the
reasoning
ability
to
seek out truth.

Bacon (1561-1626)

Novum Organum - challenged

Aristotelian logic

Science must be concerned with

inquiry, pure and simple with no
preconceived notions

We need to examine all previously

accepted knowledge

Bacon (1561-1626)

Need to rid our mind of idols

Idol

of the Den - we believe things

because of limited experience

Idol

of the Tribe - we believe things

because many people believe them
Idol of the Marketplace - we are mislead
by language
Idol of the Theatre - Religion and
philosophy may prevent us from see the
world objectively

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Known as the father of inductive

reasoning
arrive

at generalizations from
systematic observations of particulars

Died as a result of the only experiment

he performed - stuffed a dead chicken
with snow to see if it would preserve the
flesh, caught a cold and died

John Locke (1632-1704)

At birth, the mind is a blank sheet of

paper - a tabula rasa

All ideas are derived from experience

by way of sensation and reflection

Realism and Education

Promotes the study of science and

the scientific method

There are essential ideas and facts to

be learned; therefore lecture and
other formal methods of teaching are
useful

Realism and Education

Find specialization to be desirable

Like structure
ringing bells, departments, daily lesson
plans
If something exists, it can be measured
IQ, Effective teaching
Approve of competencies,
performance-based teaching,
accountability

Realism and Education

Teacher should present material in a

systematic, organized way and teach
that there are clearly defined criteria
for making judgments in art,
economics, politics, etc.

The Realist and the Chair

To a realist, the
actuality of chair is
important. A realist
would measure the
chair,
weight
it,
examine the physical
characteristics, etc.
The fact that the
chair exists is the
ultimate truth.

Pragmatism

Pragmatism

The root of the word Pragmatism is a

Greek word meaning work.
It is primarily a 20th century
philosophy developed by Americans.
Truth is what works in the real world.
We must keep the desired end in
mind.
Ideas should be applied to solving
problems; including social problems.

Leaders in Pragmatism

Auguste Comte, 1798-1857

Not

a pragmatist but emphasized

using science to solve social
problems

Leaders in Pragmatism

Charles Darwin, 1809-1882

Reality

is not found in Being, but

in Becoming

Reality

is open-ended, in process,
with no fixed end.

American Pragmatists

Charles Sanders Peirce, 1839-1914

Widely acknowledged as the father of
pragmatism
Wrote an article on How to make our
Ideas Clear in Popular Science Monthly
that is regarded as the basis for
pragmatism.
True knowledge of anything depends
upon verification of our ideas in actual
experience

American Pragmatists

William James, 1842-1910

The truth of an idea is its workability
Truth is not absolute and immutable;
rather it is made in actual, real-life
James called his philosophy radical
empericism
Jamess 1907 book Pragmatism
did much to promote pragmatism.
Rufus Stimson, a leader in agricultural
education, studied under James.

American Pragmatists

John Dewey, 1859-1952

Need to concentrate on real-life problems

Sought practical solutions for practical problems

How We Think
Felt

Difficulty

Define

the problem

Formulate
Examine
Accept

possible solutions

& Evaluate possible solutions

or reject solutions

Pragmatism and Education

Education should be preparation for

life
Solving problems is important;
therefore use real-life situations
Teaching methods should be varied
and flexible
Education should be action oriented
Needs and interests of students should
be considered

Pragmatism and Education

Project approach to teaching is

desirable

Curriculum is varied

A broad education is more desirable

The Pragmatist and the Chair

To a pragmatist, the
use of the chair is
important. What is
the purpose of the
chair and does it
fulfil that purpose?
The workability of
a
chair
is
the
ultimate truth.

Reconstructionism

Reconstructionism

Society is in need of constant

reconstruction

Such social change involves both a

reconstruction of education and the
use of education in reconstructing
society

Problems are viewed holistically

Futuristic thinking (utopian thinking)

Reconstructionism

Do not believe preparing students for

the world as it exists today will be
sufficient (too much emphasis on the
status quo)

Reconstuctionists want to:

link thought with action

theory with practice

intellect with activism

Reconstructionism

The goal of education should be to

emphasize the need for change

Students should be out in the real

world

World curriculum

Technology is valuable
in solving problems

Noted Reconstructionists

George S. Counts

Theodore Brameld

Paole Freire

Karl Marx

Ivan Illich

John Dewey (he is also recognized as

a pragmatist)

The Reconstructionist
and the Chair

To a
reconstructionist, the
redesign of the
chair to better
serve the needs of
society is important.
How can the chair be
improved to prepare
society for the
future?

Existentialism

Existentialism

Received new emphasis in the 60s

and 70s
Civil

rights

Women

rights

Individual
Special

rights

needs

Existentialism

In education
curriculum

was revamped to meet the

needs (more accurately - demands) of
individuals

mainstreaming
Pass

or fail grade policies

extended

drop deadlines in college

elimination
decline

of core courses

of corporal punishment

Existentialism

In extension there was a focus on

serving non-traditional clientele

Focus shifted toward the

urban environment

Existentialism

Traditional philosophies - consider

questions about the nature of
knowledge, truth and meaning but:
Existentialists

are concerned with

how these things are educationally
significant within the lived
experiences of individuals.

Existentialism and Education

People come first, then ideas

People

create ideas

Emphasis on self discovery

Existentialism and Schools

A good education emphasizes

individuality

Students should take a positive role

in shaping their schools

Existentialism and Schools

Students shouldnt have to:

attend
take

classes

examinations

receive

grades

There is no set curriculum

Noted Existentialists

Soren Kierkegaard

Martin Heidigger

Martin Buber

Jean-Paul Sartre

The Existentialist and the Chair

To an existentialist,
the individuals use of
chair is important.
Whatever the
individual wants to
do with the chair is
important. The
experience of the
individual with the
chair is the ultimate
truth.

Match the philosophy

to the image

Idealism

Realism

Pragmatism

Reconstructionism

Existentialism