Society and Education:

Philosophical
Perspective
 HISTORY MAKERS

SOCRATES ARISTOTLE
469-399 B.C 384-322 B.C

PLATO
427-347 B.C
 • Why is important for
teachers to study Philosophy
of Education?
 • In the field of education, Philosophy or the
Educational Philosophies, in particular, helps seek
to understand questions like, How does a teacher
view the learners? How can teachers maximize
students learning and potentials through certain
means? Who is a teacher inside the four corners
of the classroom? What is the role of a teacher in
school, community or in society as a whole?
 Classical Philosophies
1. Idealism
Idealism as a philosophy was The aim of idealism to
founded by Plato who said that education is to discover and
“In order to know something, develop the abilities of every
we need to withdraw from the learner and also to uphold full
use of our senses and rely on a moral excellence among
purely intellectual individuals in order for them to
approach”. serve society well.
2. Realism
Realism basically is the
opposite of Idealism which
was founded by Aristotle Realism as a philosophy
known as the “Father of in education seeks to
Realism”. According to the provide vital knowledge
study of Acheampong, in for the learners to survive
Idealism our thoughts and the natural world and for
ideals shape our reality, them to be prepared for
while in Realism reality has the real-life scenario.
an absolute existence
independent from our
thoughts and ideas.
3. Existentialism
Existentialism is founded
by Soren Kierkegaard a existentialism is concerned with
Danish Philosopher, this
particular Philosophy sees
reality and knowledge in a
subjective manner that
lies within the individual
and varies from one
person to another.
In the field of education,
helping learners understand
and appreciate themselves as
unique individual by teaching
them on defining themselves
through various activities and
by exposing them to different
kinds of environment that
allows them to choose their
own preferred way.
 4. Pragmatism
Pragmatism is also known Pragmatist perspective,
as experientialism which is they believe that the
the roots of progressivism school curriculum must
and reconstructionism, be a mirror of the
which showcases some society which focuses on
practical approaches in the needs and interests
solving problems. of learners.
 Modern Philosophies
As a Teacher-Centered
1. Perennialism
Perennialism is an Educational
Philosophy that falls under the
Teacher-Centered Educational
Philosophy developed by Robert
Maynard Hutchins which focuses its
goals on teaching the learners to
become rational and critical thinkers
by utilizing knowledge, ideas and
universal truths that have lasted
through many generations of time
and space like the Great Books of
arts and literature.
Educational Philosophy,
perennialist classrooms are mor
likely focused on the teacher tha
the students, wherein teachers
does not dwell on the interests o
experiences of learners, rather
teachers will utilize methods an
techniques that are tried and
proven like the Socratic Method
and the Lecture Method,
perceived by perennialists as th
most conducive way in disciplinin
the minds of the learners.
 2. Essentialism
Another educational philosophy
considered to be a Teacher-
Centered Educational Philosophy
is Essentialism which qualities
are heavily similar to
Perennialism in terms of its aims
wherein part of the aims is to
allow learners to think deeply,
analytically, flexibly and
imaginatively, teachers
concerned with learning for
learners and the tried and
proven methods and techniques
in teachings used.
Essentialism is an educational
philosophy gives emphasis on the
acquisition of essential and
fundamental knowledge, skills
and values specifying the 4 r’s
namely Reading, Writing,
Arithmetic and Right Conduct
which are necessary for learners
to obtain a higher level of learning
and those complex skills needed
by learners in preparation for
adulthood through programs that
are academically rigorous since as
stated by William Bagley.
3. Progressivism
Progressivism is considered as
a collective term used in a
particular time in history, but
in particular, as an Educational
Philosophy Progressivism is
focused on educating the
whole child and as well as the
cultivation of individuality for
learners to become
enlightened and intelligent
members of a democratic
society.
Progressivism is considered
as a Learner-Centered
Educational Philosophy
which primarily focuses on
the interest and experiences
of the learners which aims to
provide learners with the
needed knowledge and skills
for them to be able to cope
with the changing world.
4. Humanism
As a Philosophy Humanism
sprouted in the idea of
Erasmus who believes in the
individual’s innate goodness,
free will, moral conscience,
ability to reason and
comprehend and religious
instinct which he quoted as
“Docta Pieta” or “Philosophy
of Christ”.
Humanism also believes
that learners should be in
control of their own destiny
for them to become
autonomous individuals
who can freely choose and
be responsible to
themselves. Humanism
also gives emphasizes the
importance
 Post-Modern Philosophies
1. Social Reconstructionism
Social Reconstructionism is an
educational philosophy developed
by Theodore Brameld as a
reaction to the devastating World
War II, which focuses its
perspective on social reformation
towards creating a better society
and worldwide democracy by
addressing the social questions,
issues and challenges in the
society.
It is also a Learner-Centered
Educational Philosophy that
believes that learners are
the active recipients of
learning and sees problem-
solving, community-based
learning and experiential
learning as some of the
effective methods for the
teaching and learning
process and towards solving
real-world problems.
2. Behaviorism
teachers arrange the
physical environment of the
Behaviorism is an classroom like the lighting,
Educational Philosophy is temperature, visual aids etc
based on psychology and also set rules for
which believes that the learners to follow so that
behavior of the learners the desired responses or
is a product of their behavior from the learners
environment. will be attained, rewards
system is an example of a
useful method used by most
teachers
 3. Constructivism
Constructivism is an
Educational Philosophy that
asserts that as individuals
interact with their
environment they also actively
construct their understandings
of reality, in relation to this,
Jean Piaget argued that
“people produce knowledge
and form meaning based upon
their experiences”, while Lev
Vygotsky “learning occurs
through social interaction with
a skillful tutor”.
Constructivist classroom
believes that for learning to
occur teachers must facilitate
learning by providing relevant
information for learners to
explore while interactively
doing a task since in accordance
with the viewpoint of
Constructivism Knowledge isn’t
a thing that can be simply
deposited by teachers into the
empty minds of learners rather,
learners construct their own
knowledge.