It contains the aims and methods of teaching in the Humanistic school of Philosophy.

1. HUMANISM
AIMS & METHODS OF TEACHING

2. INTRODUCTION
 Very old philosophy
 Derived from the great minds and works in Eastern and Western history and
literature.
 Does not find its origin in experimental sciences and mathematical logistics.
 Movement to gain for man a proper recognition in the universe.
 Concerned with the restoration of lost values.
 Primary importance to man
 Man is the centre of all activities in the world.
 Purpose : to create interests in all spheres of life.

3. LITERAL MEANING
 Humaniora – means study of human body and surrounding nature.
 The term Humanism was coined by Friedrich Niethammer in 19th C.
 Cultural movement to emancipate the quest for human excellence.
 Implies a specific preferences for human values.
 Humanism means religious freedom.
 Blind faith on religious dogmas is to be left out.
 Truth must be based on reason.

4. HUMANISTS
• Greek and Latin scholars called themselves as “humanists”.
• West – Erasmus, Gellius, Cicero, Democritus, Boccaccio…
• East – Gautama Buddha, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ambedkar…
• Philosophers – Daniel Dennett, Corliss Lamont, John Dewey…
• Authors – Isaac Asimov, Salman Rushdie, Alice Walker, Margaret Atwood…

5. BASED ON TWO PRINCIPLES
 Values upheld by a nation affect history.
i. Good follows when a nation’s values are of the highest quality.
ii. Modern man must learn from history.
 Great literature stresses values –
Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Panchatantra.

6. AIMS OF EDUCATION
 Man-making
 Secular, rational, & scientific
 Realisation of humanist values in the individual & society
 Complete development of human personality
 Enables man to solve individual & social problems
 Increase efficiency & happiness of human beings
 Supports democratic philosophy of education
 Fundamental human values : liberty, equality, & fraternity
 Educational institutions should be based on democratic principles

7.  Seeks to realise peace upon earth
 Humanist tendency : rationalist & integral
 Individual & society are intimately related
 Basis of education – Human nature
 Emphasises the value of individual differences in education
 Makes education child-centred
 Aim of education – propagation of knowledge, social control, social development,
and preservation of social heritage.

8. METHOD OF TEACHING
 Based on psychology
 Child psychology, developmental psychology & educational psychology
 Social virtues are emphasised besides theoretical instruction
 Play-way method : team spirit & cooperation
 Mother-tongue
 Encourages originality & creativity
 National & international languages are taught at higher stages
 Encourage human communications on national & international stage

9. CONCLUSION
• Humanism is against all types of super naturalism or super humanism. It does not
aim at superman but only at man.
• Its central standpoint is faith in the dignity of man. The humanist ethics is not
governed by any religious faith other than faith in human dignity.
• It respects science but if science becomes an impediment, the humanists would
not hesitate to criticize it.
• It respects all human beings and is against all distinctions among human beings.
• It supports the idea of world citizenship.