philosophy of education on idealism in relation to modern education

1. presentation

2. PRESENTERS
SHAME MUCHEMWA

3. Overview
1.0 Background
2.0 Major ideas
2.1 Metaphysics
2.2 Epistemology
2.3 Axiology
3.0 Educational implications
3.1 Aims/goals of education
3.2 Curriculum
3.3 Methods of teaching
3.4 Role of the teacher
3.5 Discipline in the classroom
4.0 Critique
5.0 References
6.0 Thank you

4. 1:0 background
 Plato is the father of idealism (developed idealist
principle in ancient anthems.
 In Germany George W.F Huge created a
comprehension of philosophical worldview based on
idealism.
 Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau
developed a transcendentalist variety of idealism .
 Asian religion such as Hinduism and Buddhism rest
on the spiritual outlook associated with idealist.

5. IDEALISM AND EDUCATION
• According to Miller and Jensen (2004) idealism is the metaphysical
view that mind (in some sense )is ultimate and that all things are thus
reducible to mind and ideas.
• Idealism can also be defined as the metaphysical and epistemological
doctrine that ideas or thoughts make up fundamental reality.
• Metaphysical is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature
of existence of beings and the world.
• Epistemology is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and
justified beliefs.
• Essentially epistemology has something to do with the creation and the
dissemination of knowledge in particular areas of inquiry.
• Epistemology relates to notions such as truth ,beliefs and justification

6. THE MAIN TENENTS OF IDEALISM
Views about reality
 Only the mental or the spiritual is ultimately real
 the world is an expression of a cosmic mind
 ideas are real, material objects are less real than the ideas
that refer to them.
 the world of the mind and ideas is eternal, unchanging
and orderly.
 truths and values are absolute and universal.
 a human being has a material body and an immortal soul.
 the soul is durable and therefore is permanent.

7. VIEWS ABOUT KNOWLEDGE
 the human mind has latent ideas at birth.
 Plato believed :knowledge is merely admonishing
what is already in the mind.
 true knowledge is gained through strict mental
discipline mainly through Maths, Philosophy and
Logic.
 senses are pivotal as points of contact with the
material world but they are not always reliable.
 the mind is the most essential part of a human
being.

8. ETHICS AND MORALITY
 Young people imitate the moral example displayed by
the elders around them.
 teacher’s moral character and personality are equally
important to the learner.
 the teacher needs to be an ideal personality to give
positive influence to children.

9. IDEALISM AND AIMS OF EDUCATION
In idealist settings emphasis is on the
development of the mind .
education should aim for the truth.
this truth can not be found in matter
because matter is impermanent ever
changing.
truth is to be sought in ideas which are
lucid ,unchanging and permanent.
education does not have to be interesting
to the learner.

10.  education must have very high standards and
allow the best ones to reach the top.
 education must be open to anyone but should be
given according to one’s capability.
 education must develop understanding tolerance
and hard working in pupils.
 many Idealists favour a great deal of “GREAT
BOOKS” programme.

11. EDUCATIONAL METHODS
 Idealists favour recitation and recall of ideas in the
learning process.
 the lecture method is widely used to expose ideas.
 question and answer techniques are also frequently
employed the aim is to probe the mind.
 encourages every learner to love reading.
 texts books are central to learning .

12. DISCIPLINE
 Idealists see no need for long lists of rules in a school
:to them good conduct is understood ,felt
 it is the unwritten law. “if you are prepared (as a
teacher), you like teaching and you do a good job.
 each teacher has to handle his/her own discipline
problems in the classroom .
 physical punishment is strongly discouraged .
 the teacher must use positive examples and praise
desirable behaviours.

13. D. A CRITIQUE OF IDEALISM.
 many people feel that idealism is too conservative .
 Idealism views the world as a finished product waiting
only to be discovered.
 intellectual emphasis ignores other aspects .
 it is criticised on the notion of being elitist.
 Idealism overemphasis on text books, does not
accommodates modern era of technology.

14. REFRERENCES
 Gutek G.L .(2004).Philosophical and ideological voices
in education. Pearson education: Boston.
 Omorogde .J.I.(1998).African philosophy and today.In
.E.C.Eze.(ed) African philosophy.Anthology
Black: Oxford.
 Schofield .H.(1972).The philosophy of education, “An
introduction". George Allen and Unwin :London.