INTRODUCTION

Philosophy originated in Asia Minor around 600 B.C. “Philosophy permeates the entire existence

of life (whether natural or supernatural). It transcends all disciplines and deals with the critical

reflection of concrete matters and action. Philosophy is the search of comprehensive view of

nature and attempt to give universal meaning to things. No practice is good and scientific unless

rooted in some philosophical thought which gives it logic and rational sequence – philosophy

speaks the language of analysis and reasoning meaning it provides light for the

discipline.”(Pajibo, 2013)

MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY

The word “philosophy” is derived from two Greek words – “phileo” which mean “love” and

“Sophia” which means “wisdom.” So philosophy literally means “the love of wisdom.”

IDEALISM

Idealism a philosophical 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. To him the physical world is the manifestation of some great spirit behind it.

(Shahid, 2006). In his famous book, The Republic, Plato believed that there are two worlds. The

first is the spiritual or mental world, which is eternal, permanent, orderly, regular, and universal.

There is also the world of appearance, the world experienced through sight, touch, smell, taste,

and sound that is changing, imperfect, and disorderly. This division is often referred to as the
duality of mind and body. To understand truth, one must pursue knowledge and identify with the

Absolute Mind. Plato also believed that the soul is fully formed prior to birth and is perfect and

at one with the Universal Being.

Idealism is the metaphysical and epistemological doctrine that ideas or thoughts make up

fundamental reality. Essentially, it is any philosophy which argues that the only thing actually

knowable is consciousness (or the contents of consciousness), whereas we never can be sure that

matter or anything in the outside world really exists. Thus, the only real things are mental

entities, not physical things (which exist only in the sense that they are perceived). In other

words, Idealism is a philosophical approach that has as its central tenet that ideas are the only

true reality, the only thing worth knowing. Idealism believes in refined wisdom. It is based on the

view that reality is a world within a person's mind. It believes that truth is in the consistency of

ideas and that goodness is an ideal state to strive to attain. As a result, schools exist to sharpen

the mind and intellectual processes.

The two basic forms of idealism are metaphysical idealism, which asserts the ideality of reality,

and epistemological idealism, which holds that in the knowledge process the mind can grasp

only the psychic or that its objects are conditioned by their perceptibility. In its metaphysics,

idealism is thus directly opposed to materialism, the view that the basic substance of the world is

matter and that it is known primarily through and as material forms and processes. In its

epistemology, it is opposed to realism, which holds that in human knowledge objects are grasped

and seen as they really are - in their existence outside and independently of the mind. To the

idealist God is the source of all knowledge.

REALISM

Realism a philosophical thought promoted by Plato's student, Aristotle (the father of both realism

and scientific method). Realism holds that the only reality is the material world, that study of the

outer world is the only reliable way to find truth; the world is an objective phenomenon which

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. Realism, at its simplest and most general, is the

view that entities of a certain type have an objective reality, a reality that is completely

ontologically independent of our conceptual schemes, linguistic practices and beliefs. Thus,

entities (including abstract concepts and universals as well as more concrete objects) have an

existence independent of the act of perception, and independent of their names.

Realists believe that reality exists independent of the human mind. The ultimate reality is the

world of physical objects. The focus is on the body/objects. Truth is objective - what can be

observed. In this metaphysical view, the aim is to understand objective reality through "the

diligent and unsparing scrutiny of all observable data." Aristotle believed that to understand an

object, its ultimate form had to be understood, which does not change. For example, a rose exists

whether or not a person is aware of it. A rose can exist in the mind without being physically

present, but ultimately, the rose shares properties with all other roses and flowers (its form),

although one rose may be red and another peach coloured. Realism believes in the world as it is.

It is based on the view that reality is what we observe. It believes that truth is what we sense and

observe and that goodness is found in the order of the laws of nature. Realists believe that the

fact is something that is made an image in the human mind (Shahid, 2006.)
Realism discusses the three basic questions of philosophy that is:

 What is good?

 What is fact?

 What is reality?

In the first question, realism discusses the nature of knowledge known as ‘Entomology.’ The

second question is about the nature of value known as ‘Epistemology.’ The third question the

educational philosophy discusses about the nature of beauty, known as ‘Axiology’ (Shahid,

2006). Reality is that which is never changing (permanent). So realists believe that there should

be uniform education in everywhere. To the realist, the real world is the world of energy and

anything that exists should constitute matter, energy and motion.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REALISM AND IDEALISM

In the varied field of epistemology, metaphysics and cosmology, idealism and realism present

two almost completely differing theories. They differ in the following respect;

Difference in epistemology

 According to idealism object have no existence apart from their ideas, while according to

realism; objects have an existence independent of any knowledge of them.

 Idealism maintains that qualities are imposed on the object by the mind while realism

holds that qualities are a part of the object.

 According to idealism objects are known indirectly through the medium of their ideas but

realism holds the objects are known directly.

 In idealism it believed that objects appear differently to different people but in realism it

is believed that objects are universal.

Difference in metaphysics

From the metaphysical standpoint realism and idealism differ in the following respects.

 According to the idealist the universe exists within the mind while realists are of the

opinion that the natural world is independent of the mind

 The idealist believe in the synthesis between man and nature while the realist deny the

existence of any such synthesis

Difference in cosmology

Idealism and realism differ in the following respects on question of cosmology.

 According to idealism the mechanistic explanation of the universe is not adequate while

realist propound this mechanistic explanation.

 In explaining creation the idealist lays the stress on normative and social sciences while

the realists rely more heavily on the natural sciences in their explanation of creation.

 Idealism stresses the mental and spiritual in its explanation of the world and realism, the

material and physical.

In education, idealism and realism differ in the following respect;

Source of knowledge - According to Idealism, God is the source of all knowledge: Although the

man is supreme creation of God and he can create values, yet he cannot find knowledge of

ultimate reality from anyone, elsewhere except God, not possible through the methods of

observation, experimentation and reasoning. Idealists advocate the use of intuition for knowing

the ultimate. But in Realism, a person’s knowledge can only come from outside of the self,

through observation - scientific method, a system of inquiry relying on objective facts.

Role of the teacher - Idealism believes in original thought of the student and advocates that the

teacher should serve as facilitator, guiding students towards truth - students will be able to seek

truth independently, thinking freely with the careful guidance of the teacher. As a facilitator, the

teacher should not take the role of absolute authority, but as a gentle guide for the student to

achieve spiritual growth. Realism in contrast, discounts the original thought of the student and

seeks to infuse students with knowledge from without. A realist will seek to employ the scientific

method of hypothesis and careful study over a use of pure logic and reason, as found in an

idealistic education. Realism is consistent with behaviorism, which is a system of learning

through punishment and reward - being reliant solely on information from the external world.

The teacher is therefore seen as the highest authority, a figure to which students must answer

rather than a guide who can be questioned.

Aim of education - To idealism, the potentiality of man has no bounds so the aim of education is

to exalt man to self realisation - to enable man attain his truest self but realism aim of education

is to get the people complete knowledge and understanding of society, human nature, motives

and institution. (Education should explain to the pupil how he is related to the world of men and

nature)

Curriculum – To idealism, education should serve self-development. The curriculum should

therefore be approached from the stand point of ideas and ideals. The nature of the child is of

significant importance hence the curriculum should emphasise high values like truth. Ethics,

religion and arts are main subjects. But to realism, utility is the prime mover of the curriculum.

The curriculum should be made of the sum-total of the child’s experience and should equip

students with knowledge and skills needed to understand and master the universe or physical
environment. Realism gives high priority to subjects like physical sciences and mathematics.

School organisation – According to idealism schools should be organised to promote ideals but

according to realist, schools should be organised on the basis of the needs of society.

Method of teaching –Idealism views education as innate experience and self-introspection

hence the classroom is seen as ground for meeting of personality. Learning is done through

lecturing to stimulate thought not to convey information. But realism promotes learning through

experimental method or scientific and objective method.

Discipline – Idealism views voluntary obedience and self-discipline as very important. The pupil

must obey what he feels to be reasonably good. But realism plays down the issue of individual

interest and disciplines the pupil in objectivity.

CONCLUSION

There are upsides and downsides to both views. A balance of the two is best. As a philosophy,

idealism is incomplete. It focuses on what should be, rather than what is. By definition, ideals are

goals that are perfect. They constantly remain outside our reach.   Realism, as a philosophy, is

just as incomplete. It resorts to science and neglects art and literature. It does not also give any

importance to ideals and values. This creates imbalanced curriculum and society. The two are

complementary – idealism provides ideals, values and higher aims and realism provides practical

education.

   
REFERENCES

Dr. Edison D. Pajibo, (2013), “Foundations in Education Theory and Practice”, Lecture/Class,

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, unpublished.

Austin Cline, What is Idealism? History of Idealism. Retrieved July 20 th, 2013 from

atheism.about.com/od/philosophyschoolssystems/p/idealism.htm

Luke Mastin, The Basics of Philosophy. Retrieved July 20 th, 2013 from

philosophybasics.com/branch_realism.html

Hobie Anthony, Difference between Idealism and Realism in the Philosophy of Education.

Retrieved July 20th, 2013 from www.ehow.com/info_8550977_differences-idealism-

realism-philosophy-education.html

Leo Nora M. Cohen, Section III – Philosophical perspectives in Education Part 2. Retrieved July

20th, 2013 from oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/PP2.html

Axel Randrup, Idealist philosophy: What is Real? Retrieved July 20th, 2013 from philsci-

archive.pitt.edu/1216/1/reality.html

Khalid Rawat, A comparison of idealism and Realism in Education. Retrieved July 20 th, 2013

from pakphilosophy.blogspot.com/2008/08/comparison-of-idealism-and-realism-in.html?

m=1

Ornstein, A. C., Levine, D.U., and Gutek, G.L. (2011). Philosophical Roots of Education. In

Foundations of Education.(11th Ed.). (pp. 160 -163)

Alam, M. Shahid, 2006. Differences between Idealism and Realism. Retrieved July 20th, 2013 from

pakphilosophy.blogspot.com/2008/08/comparison-of-idealism-and-realism-in.html?m=1

Sharma K. Rajendra chardr S.S., philosophy of Education. Retrieved Agust 5 th , 2013 from

http://books.google.com.gh/books?

id=u6UQJ1sWrQoC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=educational+disadvantages+of+idealis
m&source=bl&ots=xNjTiv1Y1M&sig=2I2BRvNSw91gpHB0xw_js6yz5Ks&hl=en&sa

=X&ei=WLtPUqDWOcq60wWqw4DYDw&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=edu

cational%20disadvantages%20of%20idealism&f=fa