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Philosophical Perspective

Philosophical Perspective. World Philosophies. Philosophy and Education.

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Philosophical Perspective

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  1. Philosophical Perspective World Philosophies

  2. 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. 378-9.

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

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

  5. Three Branches of PhilosophyThe 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? • Epistemology: What is the nature of knowledge? • Axiology: What is the nature of values?

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

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

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

  9. Philosphy and Theory • Idealism Social Reconstructionism • Realism Behaviorism / Essentialism • Neo Thomism Perennialism • Pragmatism Progressivism • Existentialism Existentialism

  10. 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. Idealism 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

  11. Idealism: • Reality is spiritual, it does not change. • To know is to think and rethink truths and ideas. • 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. • 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)

  12. Idealism Applied: • 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. • Classics (literary masterpieces, past civilizations). • Focus on the “Three R’s”: • Reading • Writing • Arithmetic

  13. 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. Realism 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

  14. Realism: • Reality is composed of matter. It is fixed. • Natural law. • Knowledge is obtainable through research. • 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. • Matter exists, independent of ideas. • Syllogism (example): • All men are mortal Socrates is a man Therefore, Socrates is mortal. • Understand ideas through study of world matter.

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

  16. Neo-Thomism dates to the time of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). 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. Neo-Thomism 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

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

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

  19. Developed in 20th century America with proponents such as William James (1842-1910) and John Dewey (1859-1952). Philosophy needed to to be applied to solving human problems. Success judged by the consequences of actions. Pragmatism 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.

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

  21. 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. • Teacher is not an authoritarian figure; More like a cheerleader. • Teacher encourages, plans, questions, and offers suggestions. • 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.

  22. 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

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

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

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