Professional Documents
Culture Documents
M.ED- 37
20 January 2021
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Index
• Introduction 3
• Philosophy 4
• Education 5
• Philosophy of Education 6
➢ To Develop Insight 13
• Conclusion 15
• References 16
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All human societies, past and present, have had a vested interest in education; and some
wits have claimed that teaching is the second oldest profession. While not all societies channel
sufficient resources into support for educational activities and institutions, all at the very least
acknowledge their centrality—and for good reasons. For one thing, it is obvious that children are
born illiterate and innumerate, and ignorant of the norms and cultural achievements of the
community or society into which they have been thrust; but with the help of professional teachers
and the dedicated amateurs in their families and immediate environs, within a few years they can
read, write, calculate, and act in culturally-appropriate ways. Some learn these skills with more
facility than others, and so education also serves as a social-sorting mechanism and undoubtedly
has enormous impact on the economic fate of the individual. Education equips individuals with
the skills and substantive knowledge that allows them to define and to pursue their own goals, and
also allows them to participate in the life of their community as full-fledged, autonomous citizens.
Equips individuals with the skills and substantive knowledge that allows them to define
and to pursue their own goals, and also allows them to participate in the life of their community as
It is here that that philosophy of education plays an important role in providing direction
to education on the different issues as well as providing a theory of knowledge for education to
work upon.
do that as a teacher, one must have a teaching philosophy of one’s own. Students always look up
to their teacher and therefore, it becomes necessary teachers to have thoughts to inspire them.
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Philosophy
speculative rather than observational means. It signifies a natural and necessary urge in human
beings to know themselves and the world in which they live and move and have their being.
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with
reality, existence, knowledge, values, reasons, mind and language. It is concerned with the
understanding of the life and the universe. It aims at comprehending the nature of existence.
The English word “Philosophy’ has its root in the Greek term ‘philo-sophia’. The term
‘philo’ refers to love’ and ‘sophia’ refers to “human reason’. The Greek word can be literally
From the Indian view point, the word ‘Philosophy” suggests observing and surveying the
existence.
has its root in the word ‘drs’ that means to see, to look or to view. Seeing or viewing the reality
and facts of experience forms the basis of philosophy. In other words, Darshana is a whole view
related to the inner self, what we term as the soul or the spirit or the inner being. Philosophy or
Darshana is concerned with the vision of six ways to the truth and reality.
In Sanskrit, the ‘Philosophy is also referred to as “Tatva’. The word “Tatva’ is concerned
The history of philosophy deals with the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through
time. All cultures be they pre-historic, medieval or modern, eastern, western, religious or secular
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have their own unique schools of philosophy, arrived through both heritance and through
independent discovery.
comprehensive understanding of reality, a world view. It further forms the basis of direction and
It helps mankind to determine significance of facts. It takes the totality of facts into account and
suggests their meaning for life .It gives a total and comprehensive outlook.
Education
Etymologically, the word education is derived from educare(Latin) “bring up”, which is
related to educere “bring out”, “bring forth what is within”, “bring out potential” and ducere, “to
lead”. Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the
mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process
by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one
generation to another.
In ancient Greece, Socrates argued that education was about drawing out what was already
within the student. At the same time, the Sophists, a group of itinerant teachers, promised to give
students the necessary knowledge and skills to gain positions with the city-state. Thus we see that
there are different views and understandings of the meaning of the term education. In the modern
and
In the historical development of man, education has been the right of a privileged few. It
is only in recent centuries that education has come to be recognized as a human right. All have
equal right to be educated as education has become sine qua non of civilization.
Education and philosophy are inseparable. It can be explained by the following points:
(1) The main aim of education is the all round development or promotion of life while
philosophy also aims at the understanding of life and it’s nature. Therefore, education and
(2) To lead a harmonious life, the philosophy provides direction and education takes help
from it. There is a constant mutual agreement and interaction between the two. In short, philosophy
deals with the end result and education with the means.
(3) Education and philosophy are the two sides of the same coin. Education is nothing but
the dynamic side of philosophy. Lt is the practical means of realising ideals of life.
The study of philosophy of education can be exciting and challenges that encounter great
and enduring ideas of human thought. It enables in understanding the past of education and to
develop the kinds of perspectives and intellectual tools that can help in dealing with the educational
problems.
Philosophy of Education
word pairs - 'philosophy' and 'education'. In this, education is the process that creates a multifaceted
the same time, philosophy represents goal-directed approach, ideas, beliefs, values and norms for
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solving all the problems of human life. From this point of view, philosophy of education can be
said in simple terms that- "Philosophy of education is a concept which aims at a guided approach,
thought, belief and criterion to solve the problems of education, necessary for the internal and
It is the branch of applied or practical philosophy concerned with the nature and aims of
education and the philosophical problems arising from educational theory and practice. Because
that practice is ubiquitous in and across human societies, its social and individual manifestations
so varied, and its influence so profound, the subject is wide-ranging, involving issues in ethics and
other areas of philosophy. Because it looks both inward to the parent discipline and outward to
educational practice and the social, legal, and institutional contexts in which it takes place,
philosophy of education concerns itself with both sides of the traditional theory/practice divide. Its
subject matter includes both basic philosophical issues (e.g., the nature of the knowledge worth
teaching, the character of educational equality and justice, etc.) and problems concerning specific
educational policies and practices (e.g., the desirability of standardized curricula and testing, the
social, economic, legal and moral dimensions of specific funding arrangements, the justification
of curriculum decisions, etc.). In all this the philosopher of education prizes conceptual clarity,
argumentative rigor, the fair-minded consideration of the interests of all involved in or affected by
educational efforts and arrangements, and informed and well-reasoned valuation of educational
It examines the goals, forms, methods, and meaning of education. The term is used to
describe both fundamental philosophical analysis of these themes and the description or analysis
Often there are various problems in the field of education. These problems can be related
to teacher, learner, administrator, parent, curriculum, teaching method, discipline etc. Philosophy
education, which helps in quick resolution by applying them. Therefore, it can be said that
Following are the facts that can be observed in the context of philosophy of education -
(2) Philosophy of education reveals the principle to solve the problems of education.
(3) Philosophy of education has the same dynamics as education. So, it is constantly
(4) Philosophy of education gives direction to the people involved in education, so that
(5) Philosophy of education saves those engaged in education and helps in adjustment by
(6) Philosophy of education provides the basis for the establishment of educational system
(11) Philosophy of education consist of critical evaluation and systematic reflection upon
general theories.
method, from a philosophical attitude to arrive at philosophical conclusions and results. Thus, it
Need and significance of educational philosophy can be understood by him in terms of the
quality of solving various problems of education. The work of philosophy of education is to use
the truth and principles propounded by pure philosophy in the practical operation of the
educational process. This philosophical truth seeks to bring the relationship between the life and
conduct of the learner to the field of consciousness, and makes it logical, well-planned and more
relationships that he or she decides to teach the students, in forming habits and in gaining strength
Philosophy of Education has an important role to play in preparing for a career in teaching.
It enables teachers to acquire a grasp of the conceptual field of education and an ability to find
their way around the often contested views within that field, which in turn impinge upon the
normative structure of particular education systems. It enables them to understand better the
conceptual debates that involve the subjects that they are teaching. And, it, also, enables teachers
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to understand the scope and limits of empirical research in education and the relationships between
It can be understood that the need and significance of philosophy of education is from the
point of view of both the teacher and the learner. It gives both the teacher and the learner a
philosophical nature and approach to making life and behaviour informative, effective and
insightful.
Teachers are mentors and play an active role in inculcating independent thinking in
students. However, to do that as a teacher, one must have a teaching philosophy of one's own.
Students always look up to their teacher and therefore, it becomes necessary teachers to have
thoughts to inspire them. Following are some of the ways in which philosophy of education is
Teaching philosophy has been defined as the map, which provides directions to move
ahead. One may feel lost without a map. In the same way, one is going to be missed while teaching
if a specific path is not decided. Hence, a map is always needed to make informed movements. It
is not possible to make students learn something until the teacher knows why and how he/she
wants to teach. Once one knows the path, one will be helping his/ her students to plan to reach
their destinations.
By learning philosophy, a teacher would be able to view and analyse from the perspective
of their students. Apart from understanding why students are behaving in a particular way, teachers
would also be able to know how students perceive their actions. This helps them adapt better
teaching strategies and guidance, eventually resulting in improved results. Best of all, a teacher
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would be able to analyze his/her actions and understand the positives and negatives of their
methods. Just as if it helps students, it helps them as well. In other words, the educational
curriculum consisting of philosophy contributes to discovering the mind of the learner (student),
thus aid him/her in offering experiences and opportunities for cultivating his/her potential abilities.
So, it helps the teacher to decipher the deep things of the subject matter to be taught by
him. It will help in knowing the deep philosophy and mysteries of the life of the learner easily.
This allows the teacher to simplify his/ her teaching and develop proper understanding in the
learner. It helps the teacher to refine his activities and gets to learn how to operate properly.
Philosophy of education also teaches a teacher the concept of not prejudicing the
personality of each student. A teacher needs to consider all students equal. But, this should not
affect the unique potential and capabilities of each student. Educators are required to teach
creativity, autonomy, and curiosity to all students without compromising their intellectual levels.
The idea is to avoid giving up on a pupil, who is a low-level learner. Philosophy teaches that
Philosophy of education not only helps the teacher to give practical form to his teaching
activity, but through this, the teacher is also successful in making assumptions by contemplating
the theoretical aspects. Each exercise a teacher does in class comes from a philosophy, whether it
is stated or unstated.
The philosophy is the overarching lesson plan, the long term lesson plan, and this gives the
reason why one is making an individual lesson. The lesson and activities in the lesson are the
For example, while teaching English as a Second Language. If a teacher's philosophy says
that learning a language is mostly about the nuts and bolts of the language, the grammar,
vocabulary and syntax. Every native speaker intrinsically knows these rules, for the most part, they
have a huge cache of vocabulary and collocation, and they have heard so many patterns of use that
they also have tremendous experience in syntax. So, the teacher just teaches what those rules are
Let’s say there is another philosophy that says that learning a language is about
experiencing the language in as real a context as possible. It is about volume over precision. It is
about communicating over grammatical expertise. It is about manipulating the language rather
Lesson plans and activities coming from either of these philosophies will be completely
different. There will be some overlap and one is not 100% better than the other. Yet over the course
of time, and countless hours of research, experts have come to a decision that the second
philosophy is superior to the first. Volume over expertise is the way to go. The rules come later in
the process, the experience comes first. This is generally called the Communicative Approach as
With the help philosophy of education, the teacher is able to analyse the immediate
the teacher gets help from philosophy of education in choosing the pedagogical method and
imparting it practically.
Teachers are termed as the future makers of the community. They help students choose
different professions and identities. They can leave profound impact on students and help them
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make independent decisions in the near future. The core values that students learn today are going
to be applied and used in society as they grow up. A solid philosophical background will help
ensure that these values are all positive. If a teacher believes in breaking stereotypes, there are high
chances your students will follow the same philosophical path. If one's philosophy is accepting the
already existing theories, rather than questioning them, one's students might follow his/ her path.
Understanding the philosophy of education will teach them the need to know the whys. Along with
the intellectual development of the students, it will also improve the standards of our society and
Philosophy of education guides the teacher in the traditionalist approach, beliefs, time-
related changes in educational system and to embellish it with new dimensions. Through
educational philosophy, the teacher is able to analyse the merits and demerits of old beliefs,
systems, attitudes and improve them and incorporate novelty. Educational philosophy also plays
an important role in evaluating and assimilating the present elements of the present system.
To Develop Insight
It awakens the tendency of 'synthesis' in the teacher and develops insight. The subject
brings co-ordination in the diverse disciplines of knowledge. And with this, the teacher is able to
make his thematic lecture effective in a holistic way. Every teacher has common sense outlook on
education – But the common sense outlook breaks down if there is severe strain in formulating
long range educational policies. Hence, the need of philosophical outlook (giving thinking greater
Philosophy also teaches about unifying each pupil and the teacher as one body to ensure
harmony. The idea is to work together to create a better citizen, who diligently serves his
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community and keeps check on his/her morality. Through the philosophy of education, teachers
can understand how to deal with the students and unite them as one. Even the students will then
Therefore, it can be said that philosophy of education plays a very meaningful role in the
progress of the effectiveness and practicality of the teacher in his teacher. It makes the teacher
virtuous, humble, knowledge-rich. It helps in developing the teacher's style of conduct and
symmetry in his words and actions. One becomes self-working and also inspires his/ her disciples
to become hard-working. It gives a new direction to his/ her life and teaching. In summary,
So, every teacher should be familiar with the nuances and basic beliefs of education
The modern era is ablaze with instruments, ideas, derived from scientific investigations.
While science has provided physical facilities, it has embodied the manufacture of some
destructive chemicals and warfare devices that can be world-wide. In such a situation, there is a
demand for proper management of education for the awakening of humanity, cooperation and
nature in the general public. There seems to be a need to stimulate education with value-added
objects. Therefore, educational philosophy can fulfil the role of a helper in the fulfilment of such
demand and need arising relative to time to a teacher. With the philosophy of education, the teacher
can provide an atmosphere of peace to the entire human race by discovering the values 'having
faith in human dignity' and by substituting them in the theoretical and text-related activities of his
teaching.
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Conclusion
Every teacher has common sense outlook on education – But the common sense outlook
breaks down if there is severe strain in formulating long range educational policies. Hence, the
need of philosophical outlook (giving thinking greater scope, make thinking more logical) arises
Summarizing the above discussion, the need and significance of philosophy of education
References
Bhardwaj, J. S. (2015). शिक्षा के दािशशिक एवं समाजिास्त्रीय आधार (1ed.). Varanasi: Book Ocean Publication.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/42eb/d727bf65a7efe47ed1ad9b629957d03ec3ba.pdf
Siegel, Harvey, D.C. Phillips, and Eamonn Callan, “Philosophy of Education”, The Stanford
from https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2018/entries/education-philosophy/
LECTURE- I.
LECTURE- II.
Sharma, N. & Kulshreshtha, R. (2019). NTA UGC NET/JRF/SET EDUCATION PAPER-2 (5ed.).
https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2012.693299
Why Is It Important For Teachers to Study Philosophy of Education. (n.d.). Edsys. Retrieved
from https://www.edsys.in/why-is-it-important-for-teachers-to-study-philosophy-of-
education/