13. Particular
Philosophies of
Education
Idealism, the first systematic philosophy in
Western thought…Socrates and Plato, the
Socratic method was dialogue
Generic notions: Philosophers often pose
abstract questions that are not easily answered
but are concerned with the search for truth
World of matter in constant state of flux, senses
are not to be trusted, continually deceive us
Truth is perfect and eternal, but not found in the
world of matter, only through the mind
14. Allegory of the Cave
People lived life chained facing a
blank wall of a cave.
They could only see the moving
shadows projected by the people
and fire behind them.
The people began to think this of
was reality.
However philosophers are people
from the cave that understands that
the shadows are being cast by
other people in true form.
Fascinated with the idea of
“Perfect Form”
15. Idealism
The only constant for Plato was
mathematics, unchangeable and eternal
Plato’s method of dialogue engaged in
systematic, logical examination of all points
of view…ultimately leading to agreement
and a synthesis of ideas…this approach
known as the dialectic.
16. Idealism
Plato believed education helped move individuals
collectively toward achieving the good.
The State should be involved in education, moving
brighter students toward abstract ideas and the
less able toward collecting data…a gender free
tracking system
Those who were brighter should rule, others
should assume roles to maintain the state
The philosopher-king would lead the State to the
ultimate good
17. Idealism
Evil comes through ignorance, education will lead
to the obliteration of evil
More modern idealists: St. Augustine, Descartes,
Kant, Hegel
Goal of Education: interested in the search for
truth through ideas…with truth comes
responsibility to enlighten others, “education is
transformation: Ideas can change lives.”
18. Idealism
Role of the Teacher: to analyze and discuss
ideas with students so that students can
move to new levels of awareness so that
they can ultimately be transformed,
abstractions dealt with through the dialectic,
but should aim to connect analysis with
action
Role of the teacher is to bring out what is
already in student’s mind: reminiscence
19. Methods of Instruction
Lecture from time to time, but primary
method of teaching is the
dialectic…discuss, analyze, synthesize, and
apply what they have read to contemporary
society
Curriculum…importance of the study of the
classics…many support a back to the
basics approach to education
21. The Beginnings
Aristotle was born in 384 BC
His father was physician to the king of
Macedonia.
When he was 7, he went to study at Plato’s
Academy.
Began as a student, became a researcher
and finally a teacher.
Was considered one of Plato’s best
students.
Plato died and willed the Academy to his
nephew.
Aristotle left and founded the Lyceum.
22. Aristotle and Realism
Aristotle was a realist. Plato was an idealist.
Central thread of idealism is the principle or
thesis of independence.
– Reality, knowledge and value exist
independently of the mind. Realism rejects the
Idealist notion that only ideas are real.
Believed form is within matter and change
takes place in matter.
Believed a relationship exists between
science and philosophy, and that the study
of one leads to the study of the other.
23. Science and Philosophy
For instance, studying the material
aspects of an acorn should lead to a
deeper, more complex reflective thought
of what an acorn is – of what it is in
essence or form (Ozmon and Craver,
2008).
24. Aristotle’s views
Balance is the central concept to Aristotle’s
views.
Saw universe as being in a balanced and
orderly fashion.
Education was the means used to create a
state of good citizens.
25. Man is a rational animal
Aristotle believed “man is a rational animal.”
While animals express pleasure or pain with
their cries, man and only man is able to speak.
Ability to speak allows man to be able to
determine the difference between what is right
and what is wrong, what is beneficial and what
is harmful.
So, how are these skills and knowledge
acquired?
Through education.
26. Education was Central
A fulfilled person was an educated person.
Education was essential for the self-
realization of man.
The supreme good to which all men aspire
is happiness.
27. Education and Learning
Aristotle believed education and learning
are always about an object and should have
content.
He believed a teacher instructs a learner
about an object, about some knowledge, or
some discipline.
Teaching and learning are always about
disciplined inquiry into some aspect of
reality.
A school should cultivate and develop each
person’s rationality.
28. Knowledge and Belief
Knowledge is different from belief in that
knowledge is the beginning of dialectic
reasoning.
Aristotle believed people make mistakes when
their judgment is not found on reason.
A person cannot make a mistake if they have
knowledge of something.
Aristotle argued that man should know his own
weaknesses so that he would be more
cognizant of what he does to make mistakes. If
he knows how he creates mistakes, he can take
steps to make sure he does what it takes to
prevent mistakes from happening.
29. Learning
Students learned about something by
practicing it over and over again until they
learned it.
This was done through the practice of
habituation.
Idea of learning was “Practice first, theory
afterwards,” or “Do the deed and ye shall
know the doctrine.”
30. Learning, cont.
Work begun by nature and continued by habit or
exercise was completed and crowned by instruction.
This had two functions:
– To make action free by making it rational, and
– To make possible an advance to original action.
Nature and habit make men slaves, gov’d by instincts
and prescriptions.
Instruction, or revelation of the grounds of action, set
men free.
Greeks thought of this as the realization of manhood
– or the divine in man.
31. Who was to be
educated?
Men of noble nature.
Only citizens of the state were to be educated.
The role of women was to keep house and have
children. Believed women were “intellectually
inferior” to men.
Marriage was simple an arrangement to
procreate and rear offspring.
Women were regarded as a means and not as
an end.
Slaves were not educated.
32. Men were divided into
two classes
A Governing Class, and
A Governed Class
– Governing Class required education so that it
could govern the Governed Class.
– Governed Class required just enough education
as would enable it to obey.
Only by completing these duties would each
class find its usefulness and satisfaction, or
balance.
34. Some reported thoughts on Aristotle:
– “Perplexed with obscure terms and useless
questions,” John Locke.
– Had “a naïve and childlike animistic view of the
world,” Jean Piaget.
Aristotle died in 322 B.C.
35. Realism
Aristotle was the leading proponent of
realism, started the Lyceum, the first
philosopher to develop a systematic theory
of logic
Generic Notions…only through studying the
material world is it possible to clarify or
develop ideas…matter is real independent
of ideas
36. Aristotle’s Systematic
Theory of Logic
Begin with empirical research, speculate or
use dialectic reasoning, and culminate in a
syllogism
A syllogism is a system of logic that consists
of three parts: (1) a major premise, (2) a
minor premise, and (3) a conclusion
For a syllogism to work, all the parts must be
correct
37. Philosopher’s Concerns
What is the good life?
What is the importance of reason?
Moderation in all things…balance in
leading one’s life: reason is the instrument
to help individuals achieve balance and
moderation
39. Definition: Learning is…
A change in behavior as a result of experience or practice.
The acquisition of knowledge.
Knowledge gained through study.
To gain knowledge of, or skill in, something through study,
teaching, instruction or experience.
The process of gaining knowledge.
A process by which behavior is changed, shaped or
controlled.
The individual process of constructing understanding
based on experience from a wide range of sources.
40. Some First Principles
Learning is something all humans do
– Fetuses learn
– Infants learn
– Children learn
– Adults learn
Learning is not uniquely human – all living things
learn
Learning evolved as an adaptation for promoting
survival
42. Process of Learning
Learning involves the individual
– Brain
– Body
Learning involves others
– Dyads
– Groups
– Organizations
– Communities
– Society
Learning takes place somewhere
– In physical environment
– With things and tools
Learning occurs over time
43. Products of Learning
Learning is about ideas and concepts
Learning is about behaviors and skills
Learning is about attitudes and values
44. Definition: Theories
are…
What is a Theory?
– A theory provides a general explanation for
observations made over time.
– A theory explains and predicts behavior.
– A theory can never be established beyond all doubt.
– A theory may be modified.
– Theories seldom have to be thrown out completely if
thoroughly tested but sometimes a theory may be
widely accepted for a long time and later disproved.
45. So, how do people
learn?
Easy answer: We don’t know for sure.
Difficult answer: We have multiple theories
that provide glimpses of an answer from
many different perspectives. These stem
from psychologists, philosophers,
sociologists, anthropologists, evolutionary
biologists, linguists, neuroscientists…
46. Broad domains of
theories
Behaviorism (Ch. 3)
Constructivism (Ch. 5)
Sociocultural (Ch. 6)
Cognitivism (Ch. 7)
I believe that (the) educational process has two
sides—one psychological and one sociological.
. . Profound differences in theory are never
gratuitous or invented. They grow out of
conflicting elements in a genuine problem.
-John Dewey, In Dworkin, M. (1959) Dewey on Education
47. How did we get to this
point?
A bit of history…
Where can truth and knowledge be found?
48. Plato (428-347ish B.C.E.)
Truth is found within ourselves (rationalist)
Ideas do not belong to the actual world:
They are too perfect (e.g., one’s
conception of triangles or circles). They
belong to the REAL world, in which ideas
are eternal and flawless.
Knowledge innate—in place at birth
Knowledge “drawn out” when teacher
asks questions; help students recall
fundamental insights they possess (self
reflection)
Learning passive process
50. Aristotle (470–399 BCE)
Truth is found outside of
ourselves using our senses
(Empiricist)
Developed a scientific method
of gathering data to study the
world around him.
“There’s nothing in the intellect
that wasn’t previously in the
senses”
51. So what?
Why is an understanding of learning
theory important for educators?