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1. IDEALISM
DEFINITIONS:
Idealism is a term in philosophy that refers to the rejection of the physical reality.
Instead, the proponents of idealism suggest that everything in the universe is either constructed
by the human man or that it is without material substance. To make the meaning of idealism
more clear, we discuss some definitions with refer to well-known scholars of the time.
“Idealism holds ultimate reality is spiritualism.”
-D.M.Dutta-
“Realistic philosophy takes many and varied forms but the postulates underlying all this
is that mind and spirit is essential world stuff; that the true reality is the mental character.”
-J.S.Ross-
“Idealist point out that it is mind that is central in understanding the world. To them
nothing gives the greater sense of reality then the activity of mind that engaged in trying to
comprehend its world. For any thing to give a greater sense of reality would be a contradiction in
terms because to know anything more real than mind would itself be a conception of mind.”
-Brubacher-
HISTORY:

2. Idealism is one of the oldest traditional philosophies begins with Plato who taught his
philosophy in ancient Greek city state of Athens. Plato is the father of idealism, “he believed
that, soul fully fanned prior to birth and is perfect and once with the universal being.”
In 19th century Germany W.F Hegel a university professor lectured to his student about
an unfolding view of history and a total world view based on ideal metaphysics. He believed
that, “as individuals, our minds attuned to or related to the divine mind called Absolute Mind of
the creator.”
In the United States Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David developed an American
variant of idealism called transcendentalism, that emphasis the spirit self-reliant individualism.
GROWTH OF IDEALISM:
Idealism is an old philosophy. Its inception is taken from the very times when a man
begins to thing. In the west, it was born out of writing an oration of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and
other philosophers. In india it was born out of holly script Vedas , Purans and Upanishads. Since
than it is developing in all countries of world in small or greater measure.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF IDEALISM:
There are following fundamental principles of idealism
1) Two forms of the whole world
2) Ideas are more important than objects
3) Importance of man over nature
4) Faith in spiritual values
5) Importance of personality development

3. 6) Full support of principles of unity in diversity
1) Two forms of the whole world:
Idealism believes in two forms of the world
a) Spiritual world
b) Material world
Idealist gives more importance to the spiritual world in comparison to the material
world. They believe that spiritual world is real and ultimate truth where as the material
world is transitory and mortal.
“Idealism holds the order of worldis due to the manifestation in space and time of
an eternal and spirituality.”
-Home-
2) Ideas are more important than objects:
According to idealist knowledge of mind and should be obtained through ideas only.
Hence they have given more importance to ideas than material things. They think ideas
are the ultimate reality while materials die whether sooner or later.
“Ideas are of the ultimate cosmic significance. They are rather the essence or
archetype that give forms to cosmos. These ideas are eternal and unchanging.”
-Plato-
3) Importance of man over nature:
To idealist man is more important than material nature. This is because man can think
and experience about things, material objects and material phenomenon. The thinker or

4. one who experienced is more important than object or the phenomena experienced. Man
is endowed with intelligence and sense of discrimination.
“The spiritual or cultural environment of man’s own making, it is a product of
man’s creative activity.”
-R.R.Rusk-
4) Faith in spiritual values:
According to idealist the prime aim of life is to achieve spiritual values. They are Truth,
Beauty and Goodness. These spiritual values are undying and permanent. The
realization of these values is the realization of God. For the achievement of these
spiritual values all the capacities of man are to be harnessed to the full. These capacities
are knowing , filling and willing.
“Goodness, truth and beauty are seen to be absolute each existing in its own rights
and entirely desirable in itself.”
-J.S Ross-
5) Importance of personality development:
Idealist gives much importance to the self-individual. Hence they insist upon the fullest
development of the personality of an individual. According to them the development of
the personality means achievement of perfection. Plato rightly speaks that each
individual has an ideal self. In short idealism believes in the welfare of whole human
community.
“Thus the Grandeur and worth of human life at its best are emphasis the idealism.
Human personality is of supreme value and constitutes the noblest work of the God.”
-J.S Ross-

5. 6) Full support of principles of unity in diversity:
Idealist gives full support to principle of unity in diversity. They believe that implicit in
all the diversity is an essential unity. This implicit unifying factor is of spiritual nature.
This may be called universal consciousness or divinity.
“An idealistic philosophy of education , than , is an account of man finding
himself as an integral part of universe mind.”
-H.N Home-
IDEALISM IN EDUCATION:
The credit of introducing idealism in education goes to the Plato, Pestallozzi and Froebel
who are world renounced educators. According to them, idealism pervades all the creations and
it is an undying, unlimited and ultimate force which reigns the supreme over all minds and
matters. They all advocates its great importance in education and lay more emphasis on aims and
principles of education than on methods, aids and devices.
IDEALISM AND AIMS OF EDUCATION:
Regarding Aims of Education Idealists generally agree that education should not only
stress development of the mind but also encourage students to focus on all things of lasting
value. Along with Plato, they believe that the aim of education should be directed toward the
search for true ideas. Another important idealist aim is character development because the search
for truth demands personal discipline and steadfast character. This aim is prevalent in the
writings of Kant, Harris, Horne, Gentile, and others. What they want in society is not just the
literate, knowledgeable person, but the good person as well. Idealists always have stressed the
importance of mind over matter. The important thing for the idealist is to arrive at truth, and

6. truth cannot be ever-shifting. Some idealists, although not adhering strictly to the Platonic idea
that “Truth is eternal and perfect, do believe that truth is substantial and relatively permanent.” It
is necessary for the individual to have a strong sense of loyalty to the state. Proper character
education would thus develop the attribute of loyalty because an individual without loyalty
would be incomplete. When the teacher acts according to the interests of the state or society, the
true interests of the student are being met. By the same token, a student’s proper role is to abide
by the authority of the teacher.
The following are the aims of education according to the philosophy of education.
1. Self-realization or Exhalation of Personality
2. To ensure Spiritual Development
3. To cultivate Truth, Beauty and Goodness
4. Conservation, Promotion and Transmission of cultural Heritage
5. Conversion of Inborn Nature into Spiritual Nature
6. Preparation of Holy Life
7. Development of Intelligence and Rationality
1. Self-realization or Exhalation of Personality
According to idealism man is more beautiful creation of the GOD. Hence, the advocates
of idealism lay great stress on the exaltation of the human personality. By exaltation they
mean the self-realization. Self-realization involves the full knowledge of self. Hence, first
aim of the education according to the idealism is to develop the self of the individual
higher and higher till the self-realization is achieved.

7. “The aims of education specially associated with idealism is the exhalation of
personality, or self-realization, the making actual or real the highest potentialities of the
self.”
-J.S. Ross-
2. To ensure Spiritual Development
Idealists give more importance to the spiritual values in comparison with material
attainments. Thus, according to them, the second aim of education is to develop the child
mentality, morality and above all spiritually. Thus, the teacher should so organizer as to
develop the child spiritually.
“Education must enable mankind through its culture to enter more and more fully
into the spiritual realm and also enlarge the boundaries of the spiritual realm.”
-RUSK-
3. To cultivate Truth, Beauty and Goodness
Idealists assert that to develop the spiritual values in the individual, pursuit of
highest ideals namely-Truth, Beauty and Goodness should be encouraged more and more.
The more an individual realize, the more spiritual, he will, become.
4. Conservation, Promotion and Transmission of Cultural Heritage
Man is only endowed with the keen and penetrating intellect, intelligence and an
enormous capacity of assimilating the knowledge of the world. His mental, and
intellectual capacities develop cultural, social and artistic values in human life in all its
aspects. Thus, the fourth aim of the education according to idealism is to acquaint the
with cultural heritage so that he conserves, promotes the transmits it to the rising
generation.

8. 5. Conversion of Inborn Nature into Spiritual Nature
Idealist holds the view that the inborn instincts and inherent tendencies of the
child should be sublimsted into the spiritual qualities and values. This is the real
development of the individuality. Hence, the fifth aim of education according to idealism
is to sublimate the inborn raw instincts of the child into spiritual qualities.
6. Preparation of Holy Life
Idealists upload that education should create such condition and provide an
environment which are conducive to the development of the spiritual values in the child.
A holy life full of piety and good ideals will lead naturally towards spiritual development
and self-realization. Hence, the sixth aim of education according to idealistic philosophy
is to prepare a child for a holy life.
“The object of education is the realization of a faithful, pure, inviolable and hence holy
life.” -Froebel-
7. Development of Intelligence and Rationality
Adams has defined the education from the point of view of an idealist. According
to him there is a purpose in all objects and natural phenomena. Man can understand the
purpose as well as the plan and organization. There are sets principles working in this
creation. According to the adam’s the seventh aim of the education is to develop the
intelligence and rationality of the child. Out of these principles the idealists lay great
importance on the principles of unity in diversity.
“In all things there reigns an eternal law this all-pervading energetic, self-
conscious and hence eternal unity. This unity is GOD. Education should lead and guide
man to face with nature and unity and GOD.”

9. FROEBEL from-Education of Man-
PROCESS OF EDUCATION:
STUDENT:
 The student is hard working and obedient.
 The school suggests perencialist should bring learners to know these truths. Whether the
learner see as relevant the academic content necessary to reveal these truth is an
unimportant consideration.
 Student tries to make himself clear in the theoretical aspect through discussion and debate
with the teachers.
 The schools are changed with preparing young people for life.
TEACHERS:
 The teacher decides what is to be taught, at what time and through what method.
 Learners are expected to ingest the content presented to them by teachers and ask few
question. Teachers are perceived to be bears of the wisdom of the countries.
 The teachers accordingly must be one who has mastered the discipline, who is the master
teacher in terms of guiding, discussion which will enables the student to deduce the
proper truth and whose character is beyond reproach.
 The teacher are to be viewed as an authority in the field whose knowledge and expertise
are not to be questioned.
CURRICULUM:

10.  School curricula should be the same for all youngsters. critically important are those
subjects that most clearly reveal long standing truth about the human condition.
 Idealism is more important attracted to be especially useful in illuminating critically
important insights.
 The curriculum of the idealism education would be subject centred and would draw
heavily upon the discipline of literature, mathematics, languages, and the humanities,
including history.
 It would be what is commonly termed a ‘liberal education.’
BRANCHES:
There are Three Major Branches of Philosophy
i. Metaphysics - the nature of reality
ii. Axiology - the nature of values
iii. Epistemology - the nature of knowledge
Metaphysics ofIdealism
Idealists believed that spiritual nonmaterial world is ultimately real, envision the universe
as an expression of a highly generalized intelligence and will-a universal mind. They understand
the person’s spiritual essence, or soul as the permanent element of the human nature that gives
individual the power to think and feel. The self is the primary reality of individual experience.
The Ultimate reality is self. Ultimate reality may be one or many more. The individual self has
all the freedom. Idealists use two concepts.
 Macrocosm

11.  Microcosm
Macrocosm refers to the universal mind, the first cause, creator, or GOD. Regardless of
what it is called, the macrocosm mind is the whole existence.
Microcosm , the personal mind or spirit, is a limited and lesser self but nevertheless
spiritual and intellectual like a great being of which it is a part.
Axiology of Idealism
They believe that truth, goodness and beauty exist in the universal and eternal order.
Idealists prescribe values that are unchanging and applicable to all people everywhere. Some
subjects like history, literature, theory and art are rich source of transmitting values because they
provide the contents through which students can encounter worthy models, especially in the
classics-the great works that have endured over time. Values are real existents. Evil is not real
existent. The values of human life are what they are largely because there are individual persons
to possess and enjoy them. The individual person can realize value by actively relating parts and
wholes.
Epistemologyof Idealism
Idealists epistemology emphasizes the recognition or reminiscence of a priori ideas that
are already lodged deep in our mind and are there before we are conscious of them. The ultimate
knowledge is the knowledge on spirituality. Idealism and critical realism are like in their
treatment of perception to some extent. Some idealists support direct experience of the self.
Surrounding world is important to experience the self. Reality to be a logically unified total
system, a Universal mind

12. IDEALISM AS A PHILOSOPHYOF EDUCATION:
In general, idealists have shown a great concern for education, and many have written
extensively about it. Plato made education the core of his utopian state in The Republic, and
Augustine also gave extensive attention to the need for Christians to become aware of the
importance of education. Kant and Hegel wrote about education or referred to it a great deal in
their writings, and both made their living as teachers. More recent idealists such as A. Bronson
Alcott, William Torrey Harris, Herman Horne, William Hocking, Giovanni Gentile, and J.
Donald Butler have tried systematically to apply idealist principles to the theory and practice of
education. Perhaps one of the most notable idealist educators in the nineteenth century was
Bronson Alcott. An American transcendentalist whose ideas were a mixture of the philosophies
of Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Hegel, Carlyle, and Emerson, he frequently contributed writings to the
transcendentalist periodical The Dial.
RELIGIOUS IDEALISM:
Idealism has exerted considerable influence on religion. For example, Judaism and
Christianity include many beliefs that fit into idealist thinking. In Judaism and Christianity, the
idea of one God as pure Spirit and the Universal Good can be readily recognized as compatible
with this philosophy. When Alexander the Great spread Greek culture around the
Mediterranean world, there was also a proliferation of Greek schools, which contributed to the
spread of Greek (Hellenistic) philosophical ideas, including idealism. Many writers of the New
Testament were also influenced by Greek culture and philosophy and incorporated ideas of these
into their own thinking. Paul, who wrote a considerable portion of the New Testament, was born
Saul of Tarsus when Tarsus was a city heavily influenced by Hellenistic culture and thought; one
can find a great deal of idealism in Paul’s writings, stemming from both Jewish and Greek

13. traditions. Likewise, Muhammad and Islamic thought also reflect Greek ideas with idealistic
implications.