INTRODUCTION

In order to be able to differentiate between idealism and realism, the concepts must be

thoroughly understood. Idealism is when you envision or see things in an ideal or

perfect manner. Realism, on the other hand, tends toward a more pragmatic and actual

view of a situation. The two concepts can, in layman’s terms, be deemed different in

perspectives; with idealism focusing on ‘what could be’, and realism focusing on

‘what actually is.’ These commonly accepted definitions of the words are rooted in the

philosophical uses of the terms. In philosophy, when discussing the issues of

perception, idealism is a theory that states that our reality is shaped by our thoughts

and ideas. Realism, on the other hand, deals with the fact that reality has an absolute

existence independent from our thoughts, ideas and even consciousness.

Idealism

In philosophy, idealism is the group of philosophies which assert that reality, or reality

as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise

immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility

of knowing any mind-independent thing. In a sociological sense, idealism emphasizes

how human ideas especially beliefs and values shape society. As an ontological

doctrine, idealism goes further, asserting that all entities are composed of mind or

spirit. Idealism thus rejects physicalist and dualist theories that fail to ascribe priority

to the mind. Idealism is the school of educational thought promoted by Plato in 400

B.C.. Plato thought that humans could be improved from within, by correcting their

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thoughts and discovering knowledge already there since birth. Explaining idealism,

Pajebo(2013), says the idealism philosophy view God as the source of all knowledge

and that values are absolute and unchanging. To the idealist, what is real is not the

object itself but the idea behind it. Truth to the idealists lies in the realm of ideas.

Ideas, they postulate, preceded matter. Thus ideas have intrinsic value, while matter

has extrinsic value. George and Klemke, (1986) a Christian idealist, identified the

concept of absolute self with God. Therefore, God is the ultimate reality they

concluded. Not only that but God is the one whose thoughts originated all things. He

spoke and the world came into existence. Everything in the universe has its source in

the mind of God. That is ideas such as truth, beauty, and honor are absolute as they are

embodied in the person of God. These ideas are unchangeable as God is unchangeable.

Moreover, 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,

the better we can serve the world. Also, to the idealist, the world exists, but our minds

are separate from it. That is to say spirit and mind constitute reality and true reality is

spiritual.

Realism

Realism is the school of educational thought promoted by Plato's student, Aristotle.

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

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minds must adhere to. Realists tend to believe that whatever we believe now is only an

approximation of reality and that every new observation brings us closer to

understanding reality. 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. In

support of this, Pajebo(2013) adds, the realist regard the world as physical reality as

the true fundamental thing. They will debunk the world of ideas and will rather

propagate the world of experience.

Differences between Idealism and Realism in the Philosophy of Education

Realism and Idealism are two competing philosophies in the field of education. Dating

back to ancient Greece, these theories influence the philosophy of education to this

day. In philosophy, when discussing the issues of perception, idealism is a theory that

states that our reality is shaped by our thoughts and ideas. Realism, on the other hand,

deals with the fact that reality has an absolute existence independent from our

thoughts, ideas and even consciousness. The difference between idealism and realism

will be clearer by considering the two philosophies in terms of;

 The Philosophical Positions

 The Curriculum

 The Role of the teacher

 methods of teaching

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These four parameters will enable one to get the full concept of the two different

philosophies. These will be how idealist and realist think a teacher, curriculum, and

methods of teaching should be, in accordance to their philosophical position.

Philosophical position of idealism and realism.

The philosophical position of idealism is that reality is essentially mental and spiritual

and not physical and that nothing is real except that which exists in the mind. That is,

they lay emphasis on the spiritual concept rather than biological and physical. They

are also of the view that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena, the

essential nature of reality lies in consciousness or reason. Actions should attempt to

approximate some preexistent idea of right conduct. Contrary to the position of the

idealist, realist believe that the real world exists independently of any experience to it.

Propositions are true only if they can correspond with the known facts, laws, and

principles of the objective world external to us. Ontology and metaphysics are still

necessary. Moreover the universe is composed of matter in motion. And it is the

physical world in which we live that makes up reality. We can, on the basis of our

experiences recognize certain regularities in it which we generalize about and call

laws. The vast cosmos rolls on despite man. Matter continues in motion whether man

concerns himself with it or not and that orderly nature and composition of the world

exist independent of consciousness, but which man has come to know a great deal

about. The realist on like the idealist do not give place for sentiments and imagery.

Realism holds that the only reality is the material world, that study of the outer world

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is the only reliable way to find truth. In addition, realist believe the world is an

objective phenomenon which our minds must adhere to. One can 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 and experience with the environment. Thus, they debunk the world of

ideas and will rather propagate the world of experience.

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References

Annick M. B. (1999). Philosophy of education, Andrews University Extension Center,

School Education, Northern Caribbean University.

Immanuel Kant.(n.d). Idealism and Education; Education, translated by Annette, C,

Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1960, pp. 83–94.

Klemke, E. D., Kline, A. David, Hollinger, Robert (1986). Philosophy: The basic

issues (2nd ed.) New York: St. Martin’s Press.

McNeil, John D. (1983). Curriculum: A comprehensive introduction. Boston: Little,

Brown and Company.

Sergiovanni, Thomas J., Starratt, Robert J. (1998). Supervision: A redefinition (6th

ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.

Thomas, C. J. (1998). A quest for reality and certainty. Northern Caribbean

University, Jamaica

White, E. G. (1903). Education. Boise: Pacific Press Publishing Association, pp. 90-

102.