PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
Philosophy is a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative
rather than observational means. It signifies a natural and necessary urge in human beings to
know themselves and the world in which they live and move and have their being. Philosophy is
a comprehensive system of ideas about human nature and the nature of the reality we live in. It is
a guide for living, because the issues it addresses are basic and pervasive, determining the course
we take in life and how we treat other people. Hence we can say that all the aspects of human life
are influenced and governed by the philosophical consideration.As a field of study philosophy is
one of the oldest disciplines. It is considered as a mother of all the sciences. In fact it is at the root
of all knowledge. Education has also drawn its material from different philosophical bases.
In order to understand the concept of Philosophy of education it is necessary to first understand
the meaning of the two terms; Philosophy and Education.
The word philosophy literally means love of wisdom; It is derived from two Greek words i.e.
'phileo' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom). The subject of philosophical inquiry is the reality itself.
There are different schools of philosophy depending on the answers they seek to the question of
reality. It is the search for understanding of man, nature and the universe. There are different
branches of philosophy-Epistemology, Metaphysics, etc. There are different fields of philosophy
such as educational philosophy, social philosophy, political philosophy, economic philosophy etc.
There are also different philosophical approaches such as idealism, naturalism, pragmatism,
materialism, and so on.
Etymologically, the word education is derived from educare (Latin) "bring up", which is related
to educere "bring out", "bring forth what is within", "bring out potential" and ducere, "to lead".
Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind,
character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by
which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one
generation to another. Webster defines education as the process of educating or teaching (now
that's really useful, isn't it?) Educate is further defined as "to develop the knowledge, skill, or
character of..." Thus, from these definitions, we might assume that the purpose of education is to
develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students.
In ancient Greece, Socrates argued that education was about drawing out what was already within
the student. (As many of you know, the word education comes from the Latin e-ducere meaning
"to lead out.") there are different views and understandings of the meaning of the term education.
In the modern times it has acquired two different shades of meaning namely: (1) an institutional
instruction, given to students in school colleges formally ;and (2) a pedagogical science, studied
by the student of education.
The words of Adam education is the dynamic side of philosophy. Philosophy takes into its orbit,
all the dimensions of human life. Similarly education also reflects the multifaceted nature of
human life. Therefore, education is closely related to various aspects of human life and
environment. Hence, the term education has a wide connotation. It is difficult to define education
by single definition. Philosophers and thinkers 4
from Socrates to Dewey in west and a host of Indian philosophers have attempted to define
education. However education can be understood as the deliberate and systematic influence
exerted by a mature through instruction, and discipline. It means the harmonious development of
all the powers of the human being; physical social, intellectual, aesthetic and spiritual. The
essential elements in the educative process are a creative mind, a well integrated self, socially
useful purposes and experience related to the interests of the individual, needs and abilities of the
individual as a of a social group.
1] Philosophy of education is the criticism of the general theory of education. 2] It consist of
critical evaluation and systematic reflection upon general theories. 3] It is a synthesis of
educational facts with educational values. In brief, it is a philosophical process of solving
educational problems through philosophical method, from a philosophical attitude to arrive at
philosophical conclusions and results. Thus, it aims at achieving general as well as
comprehensive results.
Conservatism
The opposite of liberalism is conservatism. Conservatism is the belief that institutions should function
according to their intended original purpose and that any concepts that have not been maintained should be
restored. Certain core principles shape the beliefs of a conservative, and conservatives believe these core
principles come from a higher power. The first core principle is that all humans are imperfect by nature,
and there is no way to create a perfect society on earth. Second, the past is the basis for our social
sensitivity and human relationships. Finally, tradition provides cohesion and stability for the society and
culture.
A conservative education preserves the traditional curriculum, aiming to transmit information to the
students as a means of bringing them into an already established culture. Conservatists are wary of
individualism and change and foster assimilation and acceptance into society. They believe the primary
role of education is academics and that schools should not assume nonacademic, custodial, therapeutic, and
social functions. Such functions are believed to weaken education.
Education without philosophy is blind and philosophy
without education is lame
Education: Great educators in the past explained the term “Education”
as the art of “Leading out”, “Education”- “E” means “out of” and “duco”
means “to lead”.
Philosophy: The word Philosophy is made up of two Greek words-
“Phileo” and “Sophia”. “Phileo” means love and “Sophia” means wisdom.
The term Philosophy means “love of wisdom”.
From the above definitions of education and philosophy, philosophy and
education are related to each other like flower and its fragrance, skeleton
and flesh. They are two flowers of one stem, and two sides of a coin.
Philosophy is the contemplative side, while the education is the active
side of the coin.
The following statement give better understanding of the relation
between Philosophy and education.
1. Philosophy and education are two sides of coin (Ross).
2. Education is the dynamic side of philosophy (John
Adams).
· Philosophy is the theory of education in its most general phase.
Education is a laboratory in which Philosophical directions become
concrete and are tested. (Dewey).
To further determine the relation between education and philosophy we
need to understand the following:
Education is Philosophy in action: It is obvious that
philosophy provides the purpose or the aim and education makes it
practical. Philosophy will show the direction and education will proceed
the direction. Education without philosophy is blind and philosophy
without education is invalid or lame. Thus, Education is the dynamic
side of philosophy. In other words, it is philosophy in action.
Education philosophy is an applied philosophy: In
practical experience, a Philosopher must think out his principles, before
applying them to human life. Education believes in applying the practice
by going through Philosophy and understanding the significance for life
in general. Example- To change the behavior of a child, Philosopher
gives us the information of standard and values. While education is a
trial to put them into practice. By this we can say that education
philosophy is an applied philosophy.
Education is used for the purpose of teaching people
what philosophy to believe: Education is used by the philosophers
for the purpose of ideological propaganda. Example- Buddha and his
followers could change the religious pattern of India through the
propagation of Buddhism. Karl Marx and his followers influenced the
communist countries of the world.
Philosophy and Natural Development: Philosophy shows
the direction for modification of natural development. Education cannot
take place without influence. As per the modern naturalistic movement
in education it is felt that the child should be kept away from adult
influence and that he/she should develop entirely as his/her nature
prompts.
The Great philosophers turning as great educationists: In
the writing of Aristotle, we find a relationship between philosophy,
politics and education. Rusk pointed that many great philosophers are
great educationists. Plato’s Republic considered as a classic by
educationists and an ideal work by political philosophers. Most of the
‘Republic’ deals with education. Other great Western Philosophers like
Spencer, John Dewey, St. Augustine, St. Thomas etc are examples are
philosophers who have much to say about nature, aim and methods of
education. Hence, they are great educators. The ideas and ideals of
Sankara and Buddha were preached in India and many people were
converted to their ideologies. Modern Indian Philosophers like Gandhi,
Tagore and Sri Aurobindo are also great educators.
Philosophy determines the various aspects of
education: Philosophy determines aim of education, curriculum,
methods of teaching, nature of text books, role of teacher, evaluation,
school organization and school discipline etc.
