Idealism and reaoism

1. Term Paper
Idealism and Realism
Submitted By: Eddiely Teodoso Sayam – Olvido
Submitted to: Debster M. Bacomo Ph.D.
Directions: Read the following questions below
and answer each comprehensively.
1. How do you define idealism and realism in your own perspective? What is
its impact the way you teach? Discuss substantially
Idealism is the school of educational thought promoted by Plato in 400 B.C.
Plato thought that humans could be improved from within, by correcting
their thoughts and discovering knowledge already there since birth. Idealism
focuses on reasoning and how a person can bring knowledge up from inside
of himself. In this view, the world exists solely in the minds of people and
that ultimate truth relies on a consistency of ideas. The more perfect our
ideas become, therefore, the better we can serve the world. In Emmanuel
Kant's idealism, the world exists, but our minds are separate from it.
Idealists give greater importance to spiritual values in comparison with
material attainments. Thus, according to them, the second aim of education is
to develop the child mentally, morally and above all spiritually. Thus, the
teacher should so organize education as to develop the child spiritually.
Idealism and Realism both philosophical school of education thoughts also
focuses on the role of the teacher. However, Idealism and Realism are
fundamentally opposing views, and a teacher philosophy will be evident in the
classroom. An idealist, for instance, will seek the role of a facilitator, guiding
students towards the truth. Students will be able to seek the truth
independently, thinking freely with the careful guidance of the teacher.
Anthony (2010) a teacher as a facilitator will not act as an absolute authority
but as a gentle guide for the student.
While Realism is the school of educational thought promoted by Plato's
student, Aristotle. Realism holds that the only reality is the material world,

2. that study of the outer world is the only reliable way to find truth; the world
is an objective phenomenon that our minds must adhere to. We achieve
greater and greater knowledge through proper study of the world. In
Realism, a person is an empty vessel for knowledge, which can only come
from outside of the self, through observation. This philosophy was the
progenitor of the scientific method, a system of inquiry relying on objective
facts.
A realist, on the other hand, will seek to infuse students with knowledge from
without. Anthony maintains that a realist will seek to employ the scientific
method of hypotheses and careful study over a use of pure logic and reason,
as found in an idealistic education. Maheshwari (2011) also indicated that
Realism is consistent with behaviourism, which is a system of learning through
punishment and reward. And be reliant solely on information from external
world, realism discounts the original thought of the student. Therefore, the
teacher then will be seen as the highest authority, a figure to which students
must answer rather than a guide who can be question. Thence, according to
realists a teacher should be such that he himself is educated and well versed
with the customs of belief and rights and duties of people, and the trends of
all ages and places. He must have full mastery of knowledge of present life, he
must also guide the students towards the hard realities of life and more
importantly, he must be able to expose children to the problems of life and the
world around. Hence, it is necessary for the teachers to know these facet in
order for them to know their role as a teacher in the teaching and learning
process in the 21st Century classroom.
2. How do you describe the idealist teacher, and a realist teacher? What role
does he need to function in the classroom to ensure quality education?
Realism and Idealism are fundamentally opposing views, and a teacher's
philosophy will be evident in the classroom. For me an idealist, for
instance, will seek the role of facilitator, guiding students toward truth.
Students will be able to seek truth independently, thinking freely with the
careful guidance of the teacher. As a facilitator, the teacher will not act as
an absolute authority but as a gentle guide for the student. A realist, on
the other hand, will seek to infuse students with knowledge from without.
A realistic teacher will seek to employ the scientific method of hypotheses
and careful study over a use of pure logic and reason, as found in an
idealistic education. Realism is consistent with behaviourism, which is a
system of learning through punishment and reward. Being reliant solely on
information from the external world, realism discounts the original thought

3. of the student. The teacher, then, will be seen as the highest authority, a
figure to which students must answer rather than a guide who can be
questioned.
However, Idealism has had great influence in education. Study in the arts
reveal a bit of ultimate reality and promotes the quality of life as no other
area can. It draws attention to truths that do not change; through religious
study, idealism can bring a meaning to existence on Earth that remains
permanent. Therefore, I conclude that by doing this althrough out the
classroom I can surely say that the quality of education will really be ensured.
It is simply. Because, as a teacher not only I thought them to live spiritually
but also I guide them althrough out how they become more resilient on
becoming a better student and individual in the future for they live
accordingly with a whole as a spiritual well being. Truly equipped with good
manners and right conduct. By so I can say that I can totally produce a god
fearing individual person.
3. What are the implication of idealism and realism to education? How this
two philosophical thoughts impact the way teachers and education leaders
manage the school?
Idealism is a very old philosophical thought and it has exercised a potent influence
on the mind of man throughout the ages. Even in modern times when people are
not inclined towards accepting any dogmatic creed or philosophy, idealism has
certain attractions which appeal to the human mind and thereby exercise a great
influence on human thinking. In education the influence of idealism has gone a
long way to restrict some of the radical thinking and establish the worth of the
eternal ideals and values of life.
The word idealism is derived from two distinct sources-the idea and the ideal. Idea
means true and testified knowledge. The word ideal stands for the perfected form
of an idea or ideas. An idealist does not have considerations for material values of
life. A thinker who idolizes ‘Mind and Self’ is an idealist. Idealism is one of the
oldest schools of philosophy.
IDEALISM AND TEACHER
Idealism assigns a special role to the teacher. It considers teacher as a spiritual
guide for the child. The teacher serves as a living model for the student. He sets
the environment in which education takes place. He carries the child from
darkness to light. He is to guide the student towards utmost possible perfection
Idealism regards the teacher as the priest of man’s spiritual heritage. He is
a co-worker with God in perfecting man. An idealist teacher is a philosopher, friend

4. and guide. According to Gentle- A teacher is “a spiritual symbol of right conduct.”
He is thus, an indispensable necessity.
According to Froebel, the school is a garden, the teacher is a cautious
gardener and the child is a tender plant. The plant can grow, no doubt, without
help but the good gardener sees that the plant grows to the finest possible
perfection. Through teacher’s guidance the child can make his natural
development into a process leading to perfection and beauty.
,
CONTRIBUTIONS OF IDEALISM TO EDUCATION
Idealistic philosophy in education emphasizes ‘the exaltation of personality’, which
is the result of self-realization, achieved by spiritual knowledge, self-discipline and
dignified teacher. Idealism assigns a very important place to the teacher who is
respected as a guide, and philosopher. They emphasize the importance of moral
and spiritual education and points out the values of humanities, social sciences,
art and literature. It emphasizes man’s perfection in various facets of life-physical,
spiritual, intellectual, moral, esthetic and social.
What is the teacher's role and student's role in idealism in education?
Idealists have high expectations of the teacher. It is believed students should be
taught how to think in school. The teacher passes on knowledge to the students,
and the students gain and adapt the knowledge. Idealist think lecture is the most
important method to deliver knowledge to students.
Why is realism important in education?
Realism has probably had the greatest impact on educational philosophy,
because it is the foundation of scientific reasoning. Realist educators encourage
students to draw their observations and conclusions from the world around them,
rather than confining themselves to an analysis of their own ideas.
Realism has probably had the greatest impact on educational philosophy,
because it is the foundation of scientific reasoning. Realist educators encourage
students to draw their observations and conclusions from the world around them,
rather than confining themselves to an analysis of their own ideas.
Idealism and Realism they both focus on the aims of education. Maheshwari
(2011) documented that in idealism, the aim of education is to contribute to the
development of the mind and self of the learner. He avers that the education-
imparting institutes should emphasize intellectual activities, moral judgements,
aesthetic judgements, self-realization, individual freedom, individual
responsibility, and self-control in order to achieve this development. The issues
that are mentioned here are also very critical to the teaching and learning process
in the 21st century classroom in order to develop the minds of the learners. Beside

5. that Maheshwari also indicated that in an idealist education system emphasis
should be placed on developing the mind, personal discipline, and character
development and that a person should be literate and of good moral character. In
addition to that the aim of education in Idealism is to bring the leaner as close to
absolute truth as possible. It should also be noted that all aims of the idealist as
educator find their ground in the conception of ultimate reality and the students;
relation to this reality. Furthermore, Maheshwari (2011) maintains that the aim of
education is to discover and develop each individual’s abilities and full moral
excellence in order to better serve society. The school, as one of institutions
concerned with the absolute must make judgements as to what is right and what
is wrong; thus, one of the aim of education would be to develop morality. While
in Realism, Realists do not believe in general and common aims education. Pak
(2014) argues that to the realists to them aims of the education are specific to each
individual and his perspectives and that each one has different perspectives.
Therefore, the aim of education according to the realists should be to teach truth
rather than beauty, to understand the present practical life. Pak (2014) also wrote
that the purpose of education, according to social realists, is to prepare the
practical man of the world. In addition to that, Akinpelu (1981:139) in his own
contribution, he stated that in the view of the realists, education is in one sense
the process of developing the capacities of a man to enable him to know the truth
as it is. He also holds the view that in Realism the ultimate aim of education is the
achievement of the knowledge of the nature and the inner workings of the
universe, so that the learner may consciously adjust himself to what is real. In
more specific terms, is to help the individual learner to form habits dispositions
and tendencies to search for the truth, to grasp it, enjoy it and use it in every aspect
of his life.
4. Cite specific classroom/school practices you have been doing which in line
with the ideas of idealism and realism? Explain vividly
How is realism applied in the classroom?
Realism was I literally applied through calls self-discipline for the learners by
controlling their feelings, desires and perform duties. Realism tells teacher to treat
learners with affection and sympathy and it allows considerable freedom to the
learners so that moral and religious education in the curriculum are
recommended.
How do I use realism in the classroom as a teacher?.
As a teacher I apply realism by having a well-formed goal for my teaching content
in mind when I teach. And also, for realist as a teacher, my goal will be based on

6. certain facts and procedures that I want to my students to learn; my goal is not to
develop the opinions of my students.
Realism calls self-discipline for the learners by controlling their feelings, desires
and perform duties. Realism tells teacher to treat learners with affection and
sympathy and it allows considerable freedom to the learners so that moral and
religious education in the curriculum are recommended.
Idealist teacher in a classroom aims to develop students' spiritual, mental and moral
being. Since idealists believe in character development, they also believe that the
teacher should be a role model for students to emulate. Teaching is considered a
moral calling.
5. Why do you think idealists give much importance to spiritual value?
What does spiritual idealism mean?
Idealism is the metaphysical view that associates reality to ideas in the mind rather
than to material objects. It lays emphasis on the mental or spiritual components of
experience, and renounces the notion of material existence.
FAITH IN SPIRITUAL VALUES.
According to Idealists, prime aim of life is to achieve spiritual values-Truth, beauty
and goodness. These spiritual values are undying and permanent. The realization of
these values is the realization of god. In the pursuit of these absolute values man
rises higher and higher in the moral plane till he attains divinity. For the achievement
of these spiritual values all the capacities of man are to be harnessed to the full.
These capacities are- knowing, feeling and willing.
Idealists give more importance to spiritual world in comparison to the material
world. They believe that spiritual world is real and the ultimate truth where as the
material world is transitory and mortal. To know the reality of the spiritual world is
to know the reality of mind and soul.