PHILOSOPHICAL

FOUNDATIONS
GROUP 1
PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS
The philosophical foundation
of curriculum helps
determine the driving
purpose of education, as well
as the roles of the various
participants.
IDEALISM
Idealism refers to the idea of
something better or at its best, and
the term is commonly used to mean
a possible time or outcome at its
best.
Plato was a Greek philosopher born
in Athens during the Classical period
in Ancient Greece. He founded the
Platonist school of thought and the
Academy
Philosophical doctrine that stems from the category of thought associated
with ideas is ‘idealism’. Generally derived from the Greek word ‘idein’
meaning ‘to see’. According to Plato, to be morally good is to possess true
knowledge. But the process of acquiring true knowledge is painful,
because most of us are chained to the world of the senses, unable to look
beyond.
To achieve an adequate understanding of idealism, it is necessary to
examine the works of selected outstanding philosophers usually associated
with this philosophy. 
• Platonic Idealism
• Religious Idealism
• Modern Idealism
Three main implications of Idealism for education:
• An emphasis on theory before practice; 
• An emphasis on logical thinking; 
• A high value attached to liberal education.
IDEALISM & AIM OF EDUCATION
1.Self-Realization or Exhaltation of Personality
2.Spiritual Development
3.To cultivate Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
4.Conservation, Promotion, and Transmission of
Cultural Heritage
5.Preparation for a Holy Life
6.Development of Intelligence and Rationality
IDEALISM & CURRICULUM
While structuring curriculum idealists give more
importance to thoughts, feelings, ideals and values
that to the child and his activities, they firmly hold
that curriculum should be concerned with the whole
humanity and its expressions. These experiences can
be imbibed by two ways namely (1) from the
physical environment (2) From contacts with other
fellowmen.
REALISM
Realism appears to be a
reaction against curricula
consisting of studies that
have become bookish,
sophisticated and a
abstruse.
• Realists asserts that there are more important, unchanging truths to be
learned. These truths are to be found in the real world of things that
exist apart from any intangible ideas about them.

• Realists view reality as essentially materialistic.

 Aristotelian Realism

•Aristotle (348-322 B.C.E.)- believed that people should be much involved

in studying and understanding the reality of all things.

•Aristotle believed that everything had a purpose and that humans’

purpose is to think.
NATURALISM
Naturalism is a doctrine which
separates nature from God,
Subordinates spirit to matter
and sets up unchangeable laws
as supreme. Naturalism is also
termed as materialism.
According to this philosophy the
basis of the world is matter.
 NATURALISM IN EDUCATION
In the field of education, Naturalism means the development of child
according to his inherent nature. 

CURRICULUM
Naturalistic curriculum is based upon the psychology of child and gives
maximum importance to the age and stage of his development.
Thomas Aquinas, a medieval Roman Catholic scholar, reconciled the
political philosophy of Aristotle with Christian faith.

Naturalism as a recognizable phenomenon clearly was a possibility

considered by Aquinas
PRAGMATISM
One of the most important
schools of philosophy of
education is pragmatism.
Pragmatism stands between
idealism and materialism a sort
of compromise.
• John Dewey endorses the viewpoint of Ross when he says, “Philosophy
is the theory of education in its most general phase”.

• John Dewey came to Chicago in 1894 to start a school in order to test his
theories in learning.

• He believed that learning was active and children came to school to do

things.
 FORMS OF PRAGMATISM

• Biological Pragmatism

• Humanistic Pragmatism

• Experimental Pragmatism
 PRAGMATIC CURRICULUM

1. Principles of dynamism and flexibility

2. Principle of utility
3. Principle of activity and experience
4. Principle of integration
“Education is living through a continuous reconstruction
of experiences. It is the development of all those
capacities in the individual which will enable him to
control his emotion and fulfill his possibilities.” 
-JOHN DEWEY
SOCIAL
RECONSTRUCTIONISM
Theodore Burghard Hurt Brameld (1904-
1987) was a leading educational
philosopher of the 20th century. As an
American educator and educational
philosopher, Brameld was best known as
the founder of Social Reconstructionism.
Reconstructivism is a philosophical theory
holding that societies should continually reform
themselves in order to establish more perfect
governments or social networks.
Social reconstructionism is a philosophy that
emphasizes the addressing of social questions
and a quest to create a better society and
worldwide democracy.
 Five major tenets of Reconstructionism
1. Society and education require constant reconstruction;

2. Programs of study should be interdisciplinary;

3. Education is being used to build a new social order and educate

individuals into new citizenry behavioral roles,

4. A rationally educated humankind can direct the process of social

and conscious evolution toward progressive goals and thus control
humankind’s destiny; and

5. Educational socialization must now be both globalist and futuristic in

its orientation
 EDUCATIONAL THEORY
Reconstructionists don’t believe in a
predetermined curriculum. They would use the
subject matter from any or all disciplines when
needed to solve a problem. Reconstructionists
prefer to evaluate students subjectively on the
basis of their ability as a social activist rather
than give written examinations. Like
progressives, they feel that student self-
evaluation has a proper place.
THANK YOU