Introduction:
In order to understand the concept of Philosophy of education it is necessary to first understand the meaning of the two terms; Philosophy and Education.
Meaning of Philosophy
The word philosophy literally means love of wisdom; It is derived from two Greek words i.e. 'phileo' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom). This tells us something about the nature of philosophy, but not much, because many disciplines seek wisdom. Since times immemorial there have been various pursuits for unfolding the mystery of the universe, birth and death, sorrow and joy. Various ages have produced different thoughts throwing light upon the mystic region. The ultimate truth is yet to be found out. This eternal quest for truth 'lends the origin of philosophy. A love of wisdom is the essence for any philosophy investigation.
Meaning of 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.
Webster defines education as the process of educating or teaching (now that's really useful, isn't it?) Educate is further defined as "to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of..." Thus, from these definitions, we might assume that the purpose of education is to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students.
RELATIONSHIP
Philosophy and education are closely inter-related and inter-dependent. Philosophy points
out the ways and education follow it. Without philosophy education would be a blind effort and
without education, philosophy would be crippled. In the word of Ross, “philosophy and education
are two side of same coin; the former is the contemplative side while the latter is the active side.
Education is the process and philosophy is the product. All educational problems are questions of
philosophy. In other word we can say that the application of philosophical principle in the field of
education to solve various educational issues is regarded as educational philosophy. In fact,
educational philosophy is that philosophy which provide answer to the educational issues of why
to educate (aim), whom to educate (child), who to educate (teacher), where to educate (school),
what to educate (curriculum), how to educate (methods), when to educate (motivation) and so
on. Further, “a sound philosophy of education is based on an adequate philosophy of life”.
Philosophy and education are reconstructive; they give to and take from each other in ebb and
flow of thought and action; they are means to one another, and ends. Thus it is the application of
general philosophical positions to educational problems is known as philosophy of education. The
following are a few viewpoints that establish the relationship between philosophy and education:
View of John Dewey: John Dewey endorses the viewpoint of Ross when he says, “Philosophy is
the theory of education in its most general phase”.
Fichte’s view: “The art of education will never attain complete clearness without philosophy”.
Spencer’s view: “True education is practicable to true philosophers”.
Gentile’s view: “Education without philosophy would mean a failure to understand the precise
nature of education”.
John Adams : Education is the dynamic side of philosophy.
T.P.Nunn: Education aims are correlative to ideals of life.
Dewey: Education is the laboratory in which philosophical direction become concrete and tested.
Conner: theory (philosophy) directs practice (education) and practice directs theory.
DEPENDENCE OF EDUCATION ON PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy determines the real destination towards which education has to go:
Philosophy has always inspired educational theory as well as practice. It determines the
real destination towards which education has to go. In the words of Dewey: “Education is laboratory
in which philosophic distinctions become concrete, and are tested”. Philosophy is wisdom;
education transmits that wisdom from one generation to the other. Philosophy represents a system
of thought; education embraces that thought in the content of instruction. Philosophy embodies a
way of life; education is the preparation for life. Philosophy is the knowledge obtained by natural
reason; education is the development of that reason and other powers of mind.
Philosophy determines the various aspects of education: All the problems of education are the
problems of philosophy. That is why, Gentile says, “Education without philosophy would mean a
failure to understand the precise nature of education “. It is because philosophy determines both
aim of life and the aim of education. Every aspect of education has a philosophical base. There
is no aspect of education – aims, curriculum, methods, text books, discipline, teacher etc. which
is not influenced and determined by philosophy. Height and breadth of education is probed by
philosophy. It is philosophy which provides aims to education and these aims determine the
curriculum, the methods of teaching, the text books, the role of the teacher and the school discipline.
It helps to construct curriculum according to the needs of the individual and the society. J.S.Ross
remarks, “From every angle of the educational problems comes the demand for philosophical
basis of life and education.
Great Philosophers have been great educationists also: Great Philosophers have been great
educationists in the East as well in the West. We can find the clearest examples of the dependence
of education on philosophy in the lives and teachings of all the great philosophers from Yajnavalka
down to Gandhi in the East and from Socrates down to John Dewey in the West. Philosophers
like Gandhi, Tagore, Radhakrishnan, Aurobindo Gosh, Plato, Socrates, Locke, Comenius,
Rousseau, Froebel and Dewey have been great educators. They reflected their philosophical
views in their educational schemes. Socrates have given the world his “Socratic method” (Method
of questioning & cross-questioning) of teaching; Plato, the Republic, the first educational classic.
Rousseau, the great French philosopher, held that education should “follow nature”. John Dewey
of America took keen interest in solving the educational problems of his country. Gandhi ji is the
father of Basic Education. In the words of Ross “If further agreement is needed to establish the
fundamental dependence of education on philosophy, it may be found in the fact that on the whole
great philosophers have been great educationists”.
DEPENDENCE OF PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION
Education is the dynamic side of philosophy: Education can be defined as the strongest instrument
for the achievement of the ideals of life and civilized attempt to bring about the balanced and
proper development of human personality. The plant of education draws its nourishment from
the soil of philosophy.
In the words of Adams: “Education is the dynamic side of philosophy. It is the active
aspect of philosophical belief, the practical means of realizing the ideals of life”. Philosophy is
the theory of education while education is practical thereof. Education is the best means for the
propagation of philosophy. Education cannot even be imagined without philosophical principles
likewise philosophical principles are lifeless without the help of education. Example- the
introduction of the 10+2+3 system of education and craft education are the consequence of
philosophical views. Thus philosophy equips us with thoughts and these thoughts are put into
practice by education.
Education is the means to achieve the goal: Philosophy deals with the ends and education is the
means to achieve those ends. Philosophy gives ideals, values and principles; education works out
those ideals, values and principles. In the words of Herbert, “Education has no time to make
holiday till all the philosophical questions are once for all cleared up”.
In order to understand the concept of Philosophy of education it is necessary to first understand the meaning of the two terms; Philosophy and Education.
Meaning of Philosophy
The word philosophy literally means love of wisdom; It is derived from two Greek words i.e. 'phileo' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom). This tells us something about the nature of philosophy, but not much, because many disciplines seek wisdom. Since times immemorial there have been various pursuits for unfolding the mystery of the universe, birth and death, sorrow and joy. Various ages have produced different thoughts throwing light upon the mystic region. The ultimate truth is yet to be found out. This eternal quest for truth 'lends the origin of philosophy. A love of wisdom is the essence for any philosophy investigation.
Meaning of 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.
Webster defines education as the process of educating or teaching (now that's really useful, isn't it?) Educate is further defined as "to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of..." Thus, from these definitions, we might assume that the purpose of education is to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students.
RELATIONSHIP
Philosophy and education are closely inter-related and inter-dependent. Philosophy points
out the ways and education follow it. Without philosophy education would be a blind effort and
without education, philosophy would be crippled. In the word of Ross, “philosophy and education
are two side of same coin; the former is the contemplative side while the latter is the active side.
Education is the process and philosophy is the product. All educational problems are questions of
philosophy. In other word we can say that the application of philosophical principle in the field of
education to solve various educational issues is regarded as educational philosophy. In fact,
educational philosophy is that philosophy which provide answer to the educational issues of why
to educate (aim), whom to educate (child), who to educate (teacher), where to educate (school),
what to educate (curriculum), how to educate (methods), when to educate (motivation) and so
on. Further, “a sound philosophy of education is based on an adequate philosophy of life”.
Philosophy and education are reconstructive; they give to and take from each other in ebb and
flow of thought and action; they are means to one another, and ends. Thus it is the application of
general philosophical positions to educational problems is known as philosophy of education. The
following are a few viewpoints that establish the relationship between philosophy and education:
View of John Dewey: John Dewey endorses the viewpoint of Ross when he says, “Philosophy is
the theory of education in its most general phase”.
Fichte’s view: “The art of education will never attain complete clearness without philosophy”.
Spencer’s view: “True education is practicable to true philosophers”.
Gentile’s view: “Education without philosophy would mean a failure to understand the precise
nature of education”.
John Adams : Education is the dynamic side of philosophy.
T.P.Nunn: Education aims are correlative to ideals of life.
Dewey: Education is the laboratory in which philosophical direction become concrete and tested.
Conner: theory (philosophy) directs practice (education) and practice directs theory.
DEPENDENCE OF EDUCATION ON PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy determines the real destination towards which education has to go:
Philosophy has always inspired educational theory as well as practice. It determines the
real destination towards which education has to go. In the words of Dewey: “Education is laboratory
in which philosophic distinctions become concrete, and are tested”. Philosophy is wisdom;
education transmits that wisdom from one generation to the other. Philosophy represents a system
of thought; education embraces that thought in the content of instruction. Philosophy embodies a
way of life; education is the preparation for life. Philosophy is the knowledge obtained by natural
reason; education is the development of that reason and other powers of mind.
Philosophy determines the various aspects of education: All the problems of education are the
problems of philosophy. That is why, Gentile says, “Education without philosophy would mean a
failure to understand the precise nature of education “. It is because philosophy determines both
aim of life and the aim of education. Every aspect of education has a philosophical base. There
is no aspect of education – aims, curriculum, methods, text books, discipline, teacher etc. which
is not influenced and determined by philosophy. Height and breadth of education is probed by
philosophy. It is philosophy which provides aims to education and these aims determine the
curriculum, the methods of teaching, the text books, the role of the teacher and the school discipline.
It helps to construct curriculum according to the needs of the individual and the society. J.S.Ross
remarks, “From every angle of the educational problems comes the demand for philosophical
basis of life and education.
Great Philosophers have been great educationists also: Great Philosophers have been great
educationists in the East as well in the West. We can find the clearest examples of the dependence
of education on philosophy in the lives and teachings of all the great philosophers from Yajnavalka
down to Gandhi in the East and from Socrates down to John Dewey in the West. Philosophers
like Gandhi, Tagore, Radhakrishnan, Aurobindo Gosh, Plato, Socrates, Locke, Comenius,
Rousseau, Froebel and Dewey have been great educators. They reflected their philosophical
views in their educational schemes. Socrates have given the world his “Socratic method” (Method
of questioning & cross-questioning) of teaching; Plato, the Republic, the first educational classic.
Rousseau, the great French philosopher, held that education should “follow nature”. John Dewey
of America took keen interest in solving the educational problems of his country. Gandhi ji is the
father of Basic Education. In the words of Ross “If further agreement is needed to establish the
fundamental dependence of education on philosophy, it may be found in the fact that on the whole
great philosophers have been great educationists”.
DEPENDENCE OF PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION
Education is the dynamic side of philosophy: Education can be defined as the strongest instrument
for the achievement of the ideals of life and civilized attempt to bring about the balanced and
proper development of human personality. The plant of education draws its nourishment from
the soil of philosophy.
In the words of Adams: “Education is the dynamic side of philosophy. It is the active
aspect of philosophical belief, the practical means of realizing the ideals of life”. Philosophy is
the theory of education while education is practical thereof. Education is the best means for the
propagation of philosophy. Education cannot even be imagined without philosophical principles
likewise philosophical principles are lifeless without the help of education. Example- the
introduction of the 10+2+3 system of education and craft education are the consequence of
philosophical views. Thus philosophy equips us with thoughts and these thoughts are put into
practice by education.
Education is the means to achieve the goal: Philosophy deals with the ends and education is the
means to achieve those ends. Philosophy gives ideals, values and principles; education works out
those ideals, values and principles. In the words of Herbert, “Education has no time to make
holiday till all the philosophical questions are once for all cleared up”.
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