Idealism and naturalism school of philosophy

1. Western schools of
philosophy

2. A) Idealism:
It seek to offer an explanation of man and
universe in terms of spirit. Therefore
Idealism believes in supernatural power. It
believe in spiritual nature of man. Ideas are
believe as unchanging. According to idealist
philosophy, education should help in realizing
the spiritual nature of the child.

3. A. Exponents:
 Socrates, Plato, Spinoza, Barkley, Kant,
Fitche, Schelling, Hegel, Schopenhauer,
T.H. Green, Gentile, Froebel, Swami
Dayanand, Gandhi, Aurobindo and
Vivekananda.

4. B. Fundamental Principles:
 1. Mind and thought are real.
 2. The outlook is spiritual.
 3. Believe in the existence of God.
 4. Ultimate reality is spiritual.
 5. Universe is created by God.

5.  6. Eternal values like truth, goodness
and beauty are perennial and not
subject to change.
 7. Spiritual laws are universal.
 8. Values are predetermined.
 9. It is a monistic concept.
 10. It is psycho-centric (mind is at the
centre of reality.)

6. C. Educational Principles:
 1. Spiritual is at the base of education.
Emphasis is on the spiritual and moral
environment.
 2. Teacher and curriculum are the centres
of education.
 3. Emphasizes book learning.
 4. Attaches emphasis on discipline of the
child.
 5. Emphasizes on thinking and reasoning.
 6. Believes in positive education
(Education that blends academic learning
with character & well-being).
 7. Education is the dynamic side of

7. D. Aims of Education:
 1. The aim of education is self-
realisation.
 2. Aims at spiritual development.
 3. Development of moral sense.
 4. Development of creative power.
 5. Development of complete man.
 6. Preservation and enrichment of
cultural environment.
 7. Realization of Truth, Beauty and
Goodness.

8. E. Curriculum:
 1. Emphasis is on Ethics and study of
humanities.
 2. Based on moral, spiritual and intellectual
values.
 3. Important subjects are religion. Ethics,
Art, Language, Literature, music.,
philosophy, History etc.
F. Methods of Teaching:
 1. Advocating a lot of methods. Not
advocated a single method.
 2. Questioning, conversation, Dialogue,
Discussion, Lecture, Inductive and
Deductive, Play-way, Story-telling, Exercise
or practice, Argumentation, Book study
etc..

9. G. Discipline:
 1. Unrestrained freedom is not allowed.
 2. Emphasises regulated freedom.
 3. Emphasises impressionistic discipline.
 4. Self-discipline.
H. Teacher:
 1. Teacher’s position is very high.
 2. He guides, directs, suggests and controls
the situation. He is like a gardener whose
function is to carefully tend the little plants
under his disposition.
I. School:
 1. It is the only place for regular and effective
education.
 2. It is a place for carrying pleasant and joyful
activities.

10. B) Naturalism:
Naturalism is a type of philosophy which
considers nature as the whole of reality.
It approaches philosophy from a pure
scientific point of view. It put forwards
that education should focus on the
nature of the child. Nature of child is
dynamic. The purpose, process and
means of education should be within the
experiences of the child.

11. A. Exponents:
 Aristotle, August Comte, Hobbes,
Bacon, Darwin, Lamarck, Huxley,
Spencer, G.B. Shaw, Pestalozzi, J.J.
Rousseau, Samuel Butler R.N. Tagore,
etc.
B. Fundamental Principles:
 1. Nature alone is entire reality, it is
ready-made.
 2. The outlook is materialistic.
 3. Do not believe in existence of God.

12.  4. Ultimate reality is physical.
 5. Universe is the natural creation.
 6. There is no spiritual values.
 7. Do not believe in value, soul, God,
religion and divine spirit.
 8. Physical and natural laws are
universal.
 9. It is a monistic concept.
 10. It is naturo-centric (nature is at the
centre).

13. C. Educational Principles:
 1. Based on psychology. Child is the centre
of education.
 2. It emphasizes basic instincts, interests
and tendencies.
 3. Nature is the base. “Follow Nature” is the
slogan.
 4. Puts emphasis on unrestrained freedom.
 5. Opposes bookish knowledge.
 6. Believes in negative education.
 7. Education is the dynamic side of
philosophy.

14. D. Aims of Education:
 1. The aim of education is self-expression.
 2. Emphasizes the autonomous development of
personality.
 3. Adjustment to environment.
 4. Preparation for struggle of existence.
 5. Attainment of present and future happiness.
E. Curriculum:
 1. Emphasis on Science
 2. It is based on need, ability, aptitude and the
nature of the child
 3. Humanities occupy subsidiary place in the
curriculum.
 4. Main subjects are Games and Sports,
Physical sciences, Physiology, Hygiene,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology,
Domestic science.

15. F. Methods of Teaching:
 1. Learning by doing, learning
through experience, play-way
method, observation, Direct method,
Heuristic, Montessori. Kindergarten
methods.
G. Discipline:
 1. Unrestrained freedom, discipline
through natural consequences.
 2. Emphasizes emancipatory
discipline

16. H. Teacher:
 1. Teacher is behind the scene.
 2. He is hot to interfere in the child’s
activities
 3. His role is subsidiary.
 4. He is a stage-setter, setting the stage.
I. School:
 1. Nature is the best school.
 2. School should be a natural and
spontaneous field for undertaking free
activities by children.

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