This document outlines 7 basic educational philosophies: idealism, realism, pragmatism, perennialism, essentialism, existentialism, and reconstructionism. It provides brief definitions and key principles of each. Idealism focuses on ideas and intellectual processes. Realism sees reality as existing independently of human perception. Pragmatism views truth as constructed from experience to solve problems. Perennialism aims to develop students' intellectual and moral qualities. Essentialism emphasizes a traditional core curriculum. Existentialism celebrates human existence and subjective meaning. Reconstructionism believes schools should reconstruct society. The document cautions against dominance of any one philosophy.

1. Basic Philosophies
Group II

2. Basic
Philosophy
7 Basic Philosophies
(Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, Perennialism,
Essentialism, Existentialism, Reconstructionism)
Background

3. Definition of Philosophy
• A set of ideas, a system of values or a
basic theory or viewpoint
• ". . .philosophy is merely an elucidated
experience.“ (Merleau-
Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception, p.
43:)
• The study of nature and meaning of the
universe and of human life ((Oxford
Dictionary, 6th Edition, p.872)

4. Educational Philosophy
• A philosophy about education requires
systematic, critical thinking about
educational practice.
• A teacher’s educational philosophy
helps the educator interpret, find
meaning, and direct the daily work of
the classroom
(Educational Philosophy: The Intellectual
Foundations of American Education)

5. 7 Basic Philosophies
• Idealism
• Realism
• Pragmatism
• Perenialism
• Essentialism
• Existentialism
• Reconstructionism

6. Idealism
• Ideas or thoughts make up
fundamental reality.
• Used to describe a person’s high ideals.
• Act or practice of envisioning things in
their ideal form.
• The tendency to represent things in
their ideal forms, rather than as they
are.

7. Idealism
• The school’s function is to sharpen
intellectual processes, to present the
wisdom of the ages, and to present
models of behaviour that are
exemplary.

8. Realism
• The features of the universe exist
whether or not a human being is there
to perceive them. (Educational
Philosophy: The Intellectual Foundations
of American Education)
• A way of seeing, accepting and
dealing with situations as they really are
without being influenced by emotions
or false hopes (Oxford Dictionary, 6th
Edition, p.972)

9. Realism and Education
• Notions of the good life, truth, beauty
could be answered through the study
of ideas, using the dialectical
method…for contemporary realists, the
goal of education is to help individuals
understand and apply the principles of
science to help solve the problems
plaguing the modern world
• Teachers should be steeped in the
basic academic disciplines

10. Pragmatism
• "Pragmatism is a temper of mind, an
attitude, it is also a theory of the nature
of ideas and truth and finally it is a
theory about reality.” (William James)
• from the Greek word “Pragma” which
means Practice

11. Principles of pragmatism:
• Changing nature of truth
• Truth is constructed from experience
• Problems as the motives of truth
• Emphasis on social and democratic
values
• Emphasis on the principle of utility
• Opposing to fixed ideals and values

12. • Importance of man power
• Importance of activity
• Faith in present and future
• Opposition to social customs and
traditions
• Faith in pluralism
• Faith in flexibility
Principles of pragmatism:

13. Perennialism
• Aims to develop student’s intellectual
and moral qualities
• Emphasize that students should not be
taught information that may soon be
outdated or found to be incorrect
• It is teacher-centered.
• The teacher is not concern of student’s
interest.

14. Essentialism
• Essentialism is a conservative view of
curriculum that holds schools
responsible for only the most
immediately needed instruction.
• Essentialism avoids some of the waste
inherent with experimentalism
• But it can become so conservative that
it fails to truly educate

15. Essentialism
• Emphasis on a traditional education
• Development of the mind
• Core curriculum
• Reality is based in the physical world
• Teacher-directed learning

16. Essentialism: Lessons
• Mathematics, National & World History
• No vocational education!
• Teach the basic civilized skills of
reading, spelling , language arts and
measuring.
• Limit education’s responsibility--let
industry teach vocational subjects

17. Essentialism: Classroom Management
• Using only text books
• Seated row by row
• Teacher lecture, students listen
• Punishment--attempted behaviorism
but without expertise

18. Essentialism: Evaluation
• Standardized tests
• Writing test
• Multiple choices
• True/False
• Binary-Choice
• Matching
• Criterion referenced tests
• Not as likely to require portfolios

19. Essentialism: Vision
• All students will remember the basic
information.
• All students will learn how to pass the
test.
(faculty.atu.edu/swomack/Phil/Phil.PPT)

20. Existentialism
• Existentialists celebrate the human
existence
• Very subjective
• Emphasis on meaning within each
individual
• May doubt external reality
• Emphasis on present

21. Beliefs of Existentialist:
• Existentialists believe in the
consciousness of the self
• They are very concerned with whether
students find school to be a satisfying
experience
• They will not teach the same subjects
to everyone, since not everyone would
enjoy the same things

22. Example of Existentialism
• 1960—Summerhill School in England
• 1970s in some parts of America—self
esteem, values clarification
(faculty.atu.edu/swomack/Phil/Phil.PPT)

23. Reconstructionism
• school should take the lead in
changing or reconstructing society
• reaction to the cold war climate and
threat after WWII
• schools should both transmit
knowledge about the existing social
order but also seek to reconstruct it as
well

24. Reconstructionism
• belief in bringing the community into
the classroom
• actively seek to create a world wide
democracy

25. Healthy Balance
• Each of the seven philosophies has
something to offer
• The only hazard happens when one
philosophy rules for a long period of
time
• One should keep an open mind

26. Prepared by:
• John Jay Hendrix Dela Cruz
• Nadine Jean Hidalgo
• Marvin Amparado
• Royce Macabante
• Dynna Marie Vera
• Maryfranluna Fundador
-Group II