This document summarizes and compares four major philosophical foundations of education: idealism, realism, pragmatism, and existentialism. For each philosophy, it outlines the key thinkers, salient features, goals of education, the role of the teacher, methods of instruction, and curriculum. The philosophies differ in their views of truth, values, the nature of human beings, the purpose of knowledge, and the role of freedom in education. Idealism sees truth as revealed by a supreme force, realism views it as discovered through science, pragmatism sees it as practical and based on action, and existentialism believes truth is based on individual choice.

2. Chapter سورة آل عمران - 3 Aal-e-Imran: Verses
66-66
هَا أَنْتمُْ هََٰؤُلََءِ حَاجَجْتمُْ فِيمَا لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلِمَ تحَُا ج ونَ فِيمَا لَيْسَ
لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَاهللَُّ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتمُْ لََ
تَعْلَمُونَ
Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (Even) in
matters of which ye had some knowledge! but why
dispute ye in matters of which ye have no
knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and ye who
know not!

3. Presented to: Dr. MaharMuhammad
Saeed Akhtar
Presented by: Tahira jabeen
St : No Mp/2013-30

4. Philosophical Foundations
of Education

5. What is a foundation?
1. The basis or ground work of any thing
2. The natural or prepared ground on which some
structure rests
3. The lowest and supporting layer of a structure

6. What is philosophy?
Al kindi:
“Philosophy helps the Muslim to understand the truth
using different techniques from those directly provided
through Islam.”
Heraclitus:
“Philosophy is a sacred disease.”
Marx, Karl ( Theses on Feuerbach, #11)
“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in
various ways; the point, however, is to change it.”

7. Continued…….
William James:
"Philosophy is the unusually stubborn attempt to think
clearly.”
Aquinas:
“ The study of philosophy aims not at knowing what
men feel, but at what is the truth of things.”

8. Continued……
George Berkeley ( A Treatise Concerning The
Principles Of Human Knowledge)
“ Philosophy being nothing else but the study of wisdom
and truth, it may with reason be expected that those who
have spent most time and pains in it should enjoy a greater
calm and serenity of mind, a greater clearness and evidence
of knowledge, and be less disturbed with doubts and
difficulties than other men.”

9. What is education?
Plato :
“Education the initial acquisition of virtue by the child,
when the feelings of pleasure and affection, pain and
hatred, that well up in his soul are channelled in the right
courses before he can understand the reason why…
education, then is a matter of correctly disciplined feelings
of pleasure and pain.”

10. The purpose of Education:
What do you think the purpose of education is?
To give knowledge
To transmit culture
To help people adapt to society
To give religious education
To provide practical/hands-on experience/training
To provide learner/human-centered education (self-realization)
Why do some parents choose or reject certain schools?
Your views……..

11. Philosophical Foundations of
Education:
Philosophy influences daily educational life in many ways
(curriculum, teacher role, assessment, teaching methods..)
Idealism
Realism
Pragmatism
Existentialism

12. Idealism:
History:
Idealism is a Greece word.
Having the meanings of A visible form, The look,
Appearance of something.
It is oldest systematic philosophy in western culture.

13. The Development of idealism:
Socrates gave ideas about idealism but they were oral.
Plato (427-327 B.C.) wrote ideas and dialogues of Socrates
Plato developed one of the most influential philosophies
dealing with education.
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), George Berkeley (1685-1753),
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), George Wilhelm Friedrick
Hegel (1770-1831) are considered modern idealists.

14. Definitions:
Kant ( Kant's idealism, pg:5)
idealism may be defined as the view that reality or
“the world” is a product of the mind.
George Berkeley ( Internet Encyclopaedia of
Philosophy)
The claim that everything that exists either is a mind
or depends on a mind for its existence .

15. Salient Features:
Mind, Thought or Spirit are important
World is the projection of mind or spirit
According to Theism God and Universe are separate
Universe is created by God
According to Pantheism this Universe is the projection of
God
The creation of this Universe is purposeful
Ideas are eternal and everlasting
Man’s nature is spiritual
Ideas are true reality

16. Continued……
Idealists use deductive method
Knowledge gained through revelation and intuition is the
best knowledge
Knowledge through senses is uncertain knowledge
wisdom, thoughts and consideration are the key points
Values are unchangeable
Values are created by God
Plato believed that matter has no reality

17. Goals of Education:
Educators are interested in the search for truth through
ideas.
They encourage students to search for truth as individuals.
Education is transformation: ideas can change lives.

18. Role of a Teacher:
Dealing with abstract notions through dialectic
method.
Establishing an environment to ensure the desired
outcomes.
A role model.

19. Methods of Instruction:
Lecturing but particularly using dialectic approach.
Through questioning encouraged students to discuss,
analyze, synthesize, and apply what they have read.
Encouraged students to work in groups/ individually on
research projects, both oral and written.

20. Curriculum:
Examining the roots of the contemporary problems in
the past (great literature/classics etc)
Education at any level should teach students to think
Subject-matter curriculum
Back-to-basics approach in education

21. Realism:
Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) the pupil of Plato is the
founder of realism
He said, ideas may be important in themselves, a
proper study of matter could lead us to better and
more distinct ideas
“Idea of God or the idea of a tree can exist without
matter, but there can be no matter without form”

22. Religious Realism:
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Leader of Religious Realism
He argued that:
“Since God is pure reason, then the universe is reason,
and by using our reason, as Aristotle suggested, we
could know the truth of things.”
He emphasis on using our senses in order to obtain
knowledge about world, and his proof of God’s
existence depend heavily upon sensory observation.

23. Development of Modern Realism:
Francis Bacon(1561-1626)
He was against Aristotle.
Science must be concerned with pure and simple
inquiry
He claimed to take all knowledge as his field of
investigation.
John Locke(1623-1704)
Alfred North(1861-1947)
Bertrand Russell(1872-1970)

24. Salient Features:
Universe is not the projection of idea
There is no supreme power behind this universe
Our senses certify this universe
Man is just a physical body having no relation with
spirit
Universe is immortal
Real knowledge is that which can certify this universe
Purpose of knowledge is to get benefits from the
universe as much as possible

25. Continued…..
Revelation can be the source of knowledge for religious
Realists
Values are immortal
Individuals are important

26. Goals of Education:
Develop intellectual abilities
To equip students with information to understand
current event

27. Role of the Teacher:
Having a solid grounding in science, math's, and
the humanities.
Competency testing of students with various
methods
Read to adopt new technology
To teach disciplined knowledge
Teacher should be competent in subject matter
Teacher presenting ideas in a clear & consistent
manner
There are definite ways to judge works of art,
music, poetry and literature

28. Methods of Instruction:
Lecture, question &answer (formal ways of
teaching)
Inductive & scientific reasoning
Competency-based assessments as a way ensuring
that students learnt what they are being taught
Emphasis on critical reason aided by observation
(our experiences) & experimentation
Stressing precision and accuracy in math, science,
social studies and writing

29. Curriculum :
Curriculum consists of the basics – math's,
science, reading etc.
Attention is given to didactic & object studies in
education (use of pictures, TV, videos in
educational process)
Use of objects in education (Montessori)
Emphasis is on subject matter (highly organized &
systematic in approach)

30. Pragmatism :
History :
it is a Greek word
Its meaning is “work”
It is viewed as a twentieth century philosophy
developed by Americans
This philosophy is linked with “Scientific revolution”

31. The American Pragmatists:
Charles Sanders Peirce(1839-1914)
True knowledge of any thing depends upon
verification of our ideas in actual experience
William James(1842-1910)
Truth is that which gives benefits to man
John Dewy(1859-1952)
He changed Pragmatism into Instrumentalism
He did not believe in Supreme Power
He related philosophy with the problems of daily life
and their solutions ( benefits)

32. Salient features:
This universe is materialistic
This Universe is just for the benefits of men
Experiences and Observations are the basic realities
man’s status is physical nor spiritual neither moral
Scientific proofs are true realities
Knowledge can gain through wisdom
Just practical knowledge is the right knowledge
Values are temporary and changeable
Values are created by man

33. Goal of Education:
Primary goal of education is growth.
Education is for life.
Education should not be locked upon merely as schooling
and the acquisition of academic subject matter but as a part
of life itself.
Schools should balance the needs of the society and
students
Helping people direct, control and guide personal and
social experience (self-actualization)
Education should promote our individualism (self-directed
learning)

34. Role of the Teacher:
Applies democratic methods
Classroom is a community of learners
Teacher facilitator not authoritarian
Teacher encourages, offers suggestions, questions and
helps plan and implements courses of study
Teacher writes curriculum and must have a command
of several disciplines to create and implement
curriculum

35. Methods of Instruction:
Problem solving, experiential learning, inquiry
methods, field trips, projects
Learning in groups and individuality
Formal instruction is abandoned (flexible
methods are used) moveable chairs, freedom in
class etc.
Lockstep, rote memorization of traditional schools
are replaced with individualized studies.
Action-oriented education (activity-oriented
approach to curriculum)

36. Curriculum:
Learner-centered curriculum
Pragmatist curriculum is composed of both process
(experience) and content (knowledge)
All academic and vocational disciplines in an
integrated and connected way

37. Existentialism:
History:
Recent application to educational theory and the
problems of education
Its roots may be traced as far back as the Sophists
These are the philosophers of Existentialism:
Soren Kierkegaard(1813-1855)
Martin Buber (1878-1965)
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)
Martin Heidegger (1889-1976)

38. Salient features:
Direct relation between man and God
Problems can solve through subjective thoughts
Freedom of man is the basic reality
Man’s consciousness tells about right or wrong
Man is over burdened due to values
Emotions and decision power are the basic elements of
man’s personality

39. Goals of Education:
Education should focus on the needs of individuals,
both cognitively and affectively.
Education should stress individuality. (Education
should include discussion of the nonrational and
rational world)
Education is an activity liberating the individual.
Individuals are responsible of consequences.
Individuals should be given credit for the creation of
concepts like peace, truth, and justice. So, focus is on
humans and their ideas.
Good education would encourage individuals to ask such
questions: “Who am I?”, “Where

40. Role of the Teacher :
Emphasizes individual choices (there is no common way of
viewing world)
Both Teacher and students learn from each other & their
relation is more friend to friend
Thus the role of teacher is an intensely personal one that
carries with it a tremendous responsibility.
Due to the greater experience & knowledge, it is the
Teacher’s responsibility to develop an educational
environment that promotes awareness of the past and
present, and of the future possibilities.

41. Methods of Instruction:
Stressing individual freedom
Empowering students to make choices about what
and how they will learn
Educational methods which help Teacher in the
opening of a whole new world of possibilities for
students.
Students become more articulate and capable of
comprehension and self-expression with the help
of teacher’s existentialist approach.

42. Curriculum:
Stressing arts an literature, little emphasis is given
on math and science
The humanities are considered in an existentialist
curriculum because they deal with the essential
aspects of human existence, such as the relations
between people, the tragic side of human life as
well as the happy.
Through humanities, the existentialists try to
awaken modern individuals to the dangers of
being swallowed up by the technology (wide
awaken)

43. Topic Idealism Realism Pragmatism Existentialism
Truth Super force science practical Based on choice
Comparison:
& action
value Eternal Discovered Created by
humans
Based on choice
Nature of
human beings
Super force’s
creation
Creature of
nature
Bio-socio-psycho
individuals
Self defining
Power Glorify Super
force
Knowledge Individuals Responsibility
Knowledge Revealed Observation Social process Self relevant
Role of teacher Model of
morality
Model of
science
participant Re searcher
Curriculum Liberal rats
Humanities
Science, math
Social science
Social studies
Problem solving
Fine arts
Creative work
Purpose of
education
Conform to
Super power
Conform to
nature
Learn how to
learn
Encourage
selfhood
Freedom Within limits of
Super power
Within limits of
nature
Democracy Total freedom