PHILOSOPHICA

L PERSPECTIVE
IN EDUCATION:
REALISM
IVY PILAR A. ANCIS
Discussant
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define Realism.
2. Get to know the famous realists.
3. Identify the philosophical position of Realism.
4. Enumerate the fundamental principles of Realism.
5. Explain the different forms of Realism.
6. Determine the implications of realism in education.
 CONTENT
I. NATURE OF REALISM
-Meaning of Realism
II. PHILOSOPHY OF REALISM
-Famous Philosophers
-Philosophical Position of Realism
-5 Fundamental Principles of Realism
III. FORMS OF REALISM
-Scholastic Realism
-Humanistic Realism
-Social Realism
-Sense Realism
 CONTENT

IV. IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

-Aims of Education
-Curriculum
-The Teacher
-Methods of Teaching
-The Classroom

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The Meaning of Realism

“Realism is the doctrine that objective

reality or the material universe exists
independently of conscious mind, its
nature and properties are being
affected by being known.”
–C.V. Good
The Meaning of Realism

“Realism means a belief or

theory which looks upon the
world as it seems to us to be a
mere phenomenon.”
-Swami Ram Tirth
5 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF REALISM

 Phenomenal world is true.

 Senses are the doors of knowledge.
 Opposition of Idealism
 Man is a part of material world.
 Emphasis on experiment and
observation.

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 Famous Philosophers/Realists
• First
prominent
Realist
philosopher • Italian priest
• Father of • Thomism – Roman
Realism and Catholic
Scientific • Reconciled
Method Aristotelian
• A student of philosophy with
Plato, who Christian concepts
broke from his • Word of God
mentor’s (faith) = thinking of
ARISTOTLE idealist Aristotle
(384-322 BCE) Philosophy ST. THOMAS AQUINAS • Reason and faith =
(1225-1274) harmonious realms
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 PHILOSOPHICAL POSITION OF REALISM
 Man will discover reality with the use of science and
common sense through education or learning.
 Mind is functioning & is geared towards creativity.
 Reality can be proven by observation, experience,
experiment and scientific reasoning.
 Values must be studied to be applied in
the actual setting.

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 FORMS OF REALISM
1. SCHOLASTIC REALISM
- It started when medieval thinkers
wanted to bring together a relation between faith
(Christian theology) and reason (Classical
Philosophy).

- St. Thomas Aquinas who wrote Summa Theologica

used philosophy to help explain the doctrine and
mysteries of the church.
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 FORMS OF REALISM
1. SCHOLASTIC REALISM
- Characteristics: Relied on authorities from the past;
Synthesizing of knowledge; Deductive approach to
reasoning; Use of syllogistic logic.
-Scholastic schools had two methods of teaching:
1."lectio"
2."disputatio“

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 FORMS OF REALISM
1. SCHOLASTIC REALISM
- Education is the process by which man lifts
himself up to the eternal.

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 FORMS OF REALISM
2. HUMANISTIC REALISM
- It sprang up after the renaissance.
- It studies the present solution to each
problem of life.
- Aimed to secure a knowledge of human society and
its institutions of nature and man’s reactions to
nature, chiefly through the content and not the
form of classics.

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 FORMS OF REALISM
2. HUMANISTIC REALISM
 John Milton
Education must prepare one for life in
the real world.
 Francois Rabelais
Education is gained through books, though
emphasis should be on the mastery of their content
and their actual use in one’s life.
Education should be attractive rather than
compulsive. 14
 FORMS OF REALISM
3. SOCIAL REALISM
- Opposes a type of education that only produces scholars
and professional men to the neglect of the man of practice.
- Social realists follow the travel of journey method.
- Aim: To train a “gentleman” in preparation for a social
life and to be a practical man of the world.

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 FORMS OF REALISM
3. SOCIAL REALISM
- Study of one’s self and also others.
- Social realism explains that education should
equip learners for a happy and successful life as a
man of the world.

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FORMS OF REALISM
4. SENSE REALISM
- Stresses more importance to the
study of natural sciences and contemporary

social life.
- Emphasizes the training of the senses:
Senses = gateways of knowledge;
Learning takes place = operation of the
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 FORMS OF REALISM
4. SENSE REALISM
- Aim: To develop a natural society by working in
accord with the laws of nature
- Purpose: Happiness with God
- Thru education, man can still know laws of
nature and thereby control nature.

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 FORMS OF REALISM
4. SENSE REALISM
- 2 characteristics of representatives:
• formulation of basic assumptions
• formulation of new curriculum based on
natural sciences &
contemporary life

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 FORMS OF REALISM
4. SENSE REALISM
The sense-realists emphasized 3 things:
a. Application of inductive method (Bacon)
b. To replace instruction in Latin by the instruction in
Vernacular
c. To substitute new scientific and social studies in place
of the studies in language and literature

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 IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION
AIMS:
 Understand objective reality through
"the diligent and unsparing scrutiny of all
observable data."
 Prepare the child for happy and successful life
 Prepare the child for the real life
 Develop and train the senses
 Acquaint the child with nature and social environment
 Help individuals understand and apply the principles of
Science to help man solve the problems in the world
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 IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

CURRICULUM
 Problem-centered (subject-centered)
 Practical and useful
 Scientifically approached, standardized, and distinct-
discipline based.
 Main subjects are – natural science, physical science, health,
culture, physical exercise, math, geography, history,
astronomy

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 IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

THE TEACHER
 organizes and presents content systematically within a
discipline, demonstrating use of criteria in making
decisions
 should be educated and well versed with the customs
of belief and rights and
duties of people, and the trends

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 IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

THE TEACHER
 must be able to expose and guide the
students towards the hard realities of life
 should define simple rules
 know interest of the child and to
teach accordingly

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IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

TEACHING METHODS
 focus on mastery of facts and basic skills through
demonstration, recitation, drills, exercises and
experimentation
 Emphasis on critical reasoning through observation
 performance-based teaching
 Scientific research and development
 simple to complex and from concrete to abstract.
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IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

TEACHING METHODS
 Uses direct or indirect experiences (Field trips,
lectures, films, TV, audio-visual aids, computer technology
& .

library) to enhance learning

 Uses facts – analysis – questioning
 Vernacular as medium of instruction.
 Precision and order: ringing bells, time periods, daily lesson
plans, pre-packaged curriculum materials
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IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION
THE CLASSROOM
 Focuses on the basics of reading,
writing and arithmetic
 Classroom. environment is highly structured and
organized.
 Education should be fun and interesting for the
student.
 Education should prepare students for life in the real
world.
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 KEY POINTS…
In Realism, scientific investigation and
senses are used in order to learn.
 Realism focuses on the physical world and that this
physical world is composed of matter.
 Realists believe that schools should promote human
rationality through observation and experimentation.
 Realist teachers believe in the importance of
experimental learning.
 Students have to take a hands-on approach.

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KEY POINTS…
 Realism is problem-centered or subject-
centered.
 It concentrates on the humanistic and scientific
principles.
 Realist teachers focus on teaching scientific methods
of problem solving.
 Realist teachers should be experts in their subject-
matter.
 Character is developed through training in the rules
of conduct.
 Realism prepares students in the real world.
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References:
Meaning of realism.https://oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/PP2.html

J.Duque, L.R. Masilang.https

://www.slideshare.net/LilyRosemaryMasilang/realism-in-education-61581418?from_action=sav
e

 
Rohannie Ibrahim.Realism and its implication to education.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338128449_REALISM_AND_ITS_IMPLICATION_
TO_EDUCATION

Ann Vitug.Philosophy of education in Realism. https

://www.slideshare.net/annvitug/philosophy-of-realism-in-education
 
Realism in education.http
://adamasuniversity.ac.in/the-relevance-of-realism-in-the-field-of-education-a-philosophical-dis
course
/
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Relevance of realism.https
IVY PILAR A. ANCIS
Teacher I
Talisayan National High School

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