Idealism emphasizes the primacy of mind and ideas over matter. It sees the spiritual world as the ultimate reality. According to idealism, ideas are more important than objects, and knowledge of the mind and soul can only be obtained through ideas. An idealist philosophy of education focuses on boosting intellectual growth, enhancing individualism, and serving social betterment by ensuring spiritual development. The idealist curriculum emphasizes intellectual, aesthetic, and moral activities to make students ideal or spiritual beings. Teachers serve as ideal models who improve students' thinking and create a spiritual learning environment.

1. Idealism
Presented by:
Pradip K. Chaudhary
Email:pradip.chy11@gmail.com
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8/01/2021
Nepal Open University

2. Outline
• Introduction
• Fundamental principles
• Philosophy of education
• Curriculum
• Teacher
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
8/01/2021
• Method of teaching
• Conclusions

3. Introduction
• Contribution of idealism by Socrates, Plato, Augustine, Immanuel Kant,
George Berkeley, and George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
• According to J.S. Ross “mind or spirit is essential world stuff” that the
true reality is of a mental character”.
• “Idealists point out that mind is central in understanding the world. To
them nothing gives a greater sense of reality than the activity of mind
engaged in trying to comprehence its world. For any thing to give a
greater sense of reality would be a contradiction in terms because to
know any thing real than mind would itself be a conception of mind”.
— Brubacher.
• Idealism concern about mind or soul rather than matter and body.
• Idealism emphasizes spiritual world where ideas, feelings and
knowledge reveals reality of mind and soul.
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
8/01/2021

4. Fundamental principles
• Spirit and mind brings reality.
– spiritual world is real and the ultimate truth where as the material world
is transitory and mortal.
• Ideas are more important than objects.
– knowledge of mind and soul can be obtained through ideas only. Ideas are
the ultimate reality where as objects die out sooner or later.
• God is source of all knowledge
– divine force maintains the existence and working of all entities.
• Man being spiritual is a supreme creation :
– Man have higher intellectual powers and shows greater levels of
intelligence and discrimination.
• Values are universal and eternal i.e. Truth, beauty and goodness
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
8/01/2021

5. Idealism philosophy of education
• Boosting the growth of mind or Truth
• Enhancing individualism and personality or self realization
• Serves as Root for development of Social betterment.
• To ensure spiritual development.
• Focus on Truth, Beauty and Goodness
– E.g. the power of education have ability to creates the change
in society or child growth etc.
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6. Idealism in Curriculum
• Focus on intellectual process or Humanities i.e. teaching
goal is link with concept to teach student.
• Make student ideal or spiritual man i.e. curriculum
should be organized that access child to grow completely.
• According to Pluto curriculum should be
– intellectual activities: Children languages, literature, social
sciences, Mathematics etc.
– aesthetic activities: Art and Poetry.
– Moral activities: Religion, Metaphysics and Ethics.
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
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7. Role of Teacher
• Serves as ideals model for student.
• Creation of spiritual environment for student.
• Improves thinking power of student.
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
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8. Method of Teaching
• Idealistic should not adopted any specific method but better
to accept traditional method of teaching.
• they approach themselves as creator of methods.
• some considered methods:
– Questions-Answers
– Conversation
– Dialogue
– Lecture
– Book study, Etc.
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
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9. Implications
• Development of moral character i.e. truth,
beauty and goodness.
• Contributing the growth of overall community.
• Preserve, boost and spread cultural values.
• Build solid relations with teacher and student.
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
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10. References
• https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/idealism/
• https://creatinghuman.com/idealism/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/idealism
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/idealism
• Thomas Hofweber, Idealism and the Harmony of Thought and
Reality, Mind, Volume 128, Issue 511, July 2019, Pages 699–
734, https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/fzy086
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11. Thank You
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Pradip K. Chaudhary
8/01/2021