A search for meaning and truth

The general beliefs and attitudes of an individual or group

The body of principles underlying a branch of learning or major discipline

“Love of Wisdom” Definition was developed by Socrates

Provide clarification for what is or has been done by others

Provides a framework for life and our action Can be useful in solving educational problems A good mental activity

Metaphysics - the nature of reality Axiology - the nature of values Epistemology - the nature of knowledge

Concerned with theories of the nature of reality. o Why does the earth exist? o How did it come into being? o Is mankind free? o Is there a God? o What is real?

Common terms used in metaphysics are: o theologyo creationismo evolutiono spirito free willo atheism

Metaphysics is the area many people think of when they hear the term philosophy.

concerned with theories of value Two major divisions of axiology

o ethics • What is right and wrong? • What is evil and good?

o aesthetics • What is beautiful and ugly?

Some common terms used that relate to axiology are pessimism, optimism, hedonism, egoism, and altruism.

Concerned with theories of the nature of knowledge

Epistemological questions:o How do people learn? o What knowledge is of utmost value? o What are the different types of knowledge? o What are the educational goals of agricultural education

and extension?

Idealism Realism Pragmatism Existentialism Reconstructionism

Idealism

Idealist believe that ideas are the only true reality.

The material world is characterized by change, instability, and uncertainty; some ideas are enduring

We should be concerned primarily with the search for truth. Since truth is perfect and eternal, it cannot be found in the world of matter that is both imperfect and constantly changing.

Study the classics for universal truths Mathematics (2+2=4 is an absolute truth) Dialectic (critical discussion)

o The dialectic looks at both sides of an issue Lecture is used to transmit known

truths and to stimulate thinking.

Thesis“War is good”

Antithesis“War is

bad”

Synthesis

Socrates (469-399 BC) Plato (427-347 BC) St. Augustine (350-4300 Descartes (1596-1650) Berkeley (1685-1753) Kant (1724-1804)

Regarded as the father of philosophy Believed we learned through questioning (the

Socratic method) Wrote nothing, what we know of his views were

written by his followers, most notably Plato

A student of Socrates Known as the father of idealism Operated a school named

the “Academy”

The state must take an active role in educational matters

The curriculum must lead bright students from a concern with concrete data toward abstract thinking

Students with little ability for abstraction should go into the military, business and industry.

Those who demonstrate proficiency in the dialectic would continue their education and become philosophers in positions of power to lead the state toward the highest good (the Philosopher-King)

Believed both boys and girls should be educated and girls should be equals.

Born in North Africa (Roman citizen)o Mother - Christian, Father - Pagan

Attended Roman Primary Schoolo grammar and literature emphasized

At 16 went to Carthage and studied:o rhetoric, music, geometry, grammar,

mathematics During his younger days “He lied,

he stole, he wenched.”

Became a grammaticus in his native town Taught rhetoric in Carthage, Rome, Milan While in his 30’s was converted to Christianity,

took his holy orders and became a great evangelist and priest.

Found great favor in the church andbecame a great religious leader.

People do not create knowledge; God hasalready created it, but people can discover it through trying to find God.

Women were held in low regard (this view was incorporated into the church and held for a thousand years)

Only a few people possessed the mental ability to quest for the truth. Therefore most people should rely on the church for knowledge.

Augustine used Greek writings but began to have doubts how people who did not know God could write anything which could be of value to Christians.

In 401 the Church outlawed pagan writings such as Plato and Aristotle (even the church leaders were not allowed to read the ancient literature). This continued for 1000 years.

Encouraged the use of summaries Believed teachers should teach through

persuasion and by leading impeccable lives. Teachers should not expect to increase their

worldly stores through teaching. The “stick and fist” were needed to

keep students in line since people were wicked (because of Adam).

Idealism has exerted a great amount of influence on Christianity.

For centuries the Christian church was the creator and protector of schooling.

Generations educated in these schools were indoctrinated with the idealistpoint of view (including early American education).

A renown mathematician Wrestled with the question of what was real and

did he really exist (perhaps he was a dream). He finally concluded:o “I think, therefore I am”

Thinking and ideas are the ultimate truth.

Existence is dependent upon some mind to know it, and if there are no minds, nothing would exist unless it is perceived in the mind of God.

“…the greatest and most difficult problem to which a man can devote himself is the problem of education…”

Education should teach students how to think according to principles - moral laws, moral ideals and moral imperatives

Enlightenment is the goal of education

Develop the mind Search for true ideas Character development Self-realization

True education is concerned with ideas rather than matter.

The idealists wants to give students a broad understanding of the world in which they live.

To an idealist, the concept of “chair” is important. You could destroy all the chairs in the world but they would still exist in the mind. The idea of a chair is the ultimate truth.

Reality, knowledge and value exist independent of the human mind. Trees, sticks and stones exist whether or not there is a human mind to perceive them.

Ideas must be subject to public verificationo must be proven through scientific experimentation

“Science for the sake of science”

Universal properties of objects remain constant and never change, whereas particular components do change

Need to study nature systematically Deductive reasoning - truth is derived from

generalizationso Earth is the center of the universe

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Francis Bacon (1561-1626) John Locke (1632-1704)

Ideas may be important but a proper study of matter could lead us to better and more distinct ideas.

Golden Mean - a path between extremes Balance is key - body and mind operate together

in a balanced whole

God created matter; therefore it must be ok to learn about it

This view helped lead civilization out of the dark ages, replaced the influence of Augustine

Truth was passed from God to Humans by divine revelation, but God alsohas endowed humans withthe reasoning ability toseek out truth.

Novum Organum - challenged Aristotelian logic Science must be concerned with inquiry, pure and

simple with no preconceived notions We need to examine all previously accepted

knowledge

Need to rid our mind of “idols”o Idol of the Den - we believe things because of limited

experienceo Idol of the Tribe - we believe things because many

people believe themo Idol of the Marketplace - we are mislead by languageo Idol of the Theatre - Religion and philosophy may

prevent us from see the world objectively

Known as the father of inductive reasoningo arrive at generalizations from systematic observations of

particulars Died as a result of the only experiment he

performed - stuffed a dead chicken with snow to see if it would preserve the flesh, caught a cold and died

At birth, the mind is a blank sheet of paper - a tabla rasa

All ideas are derived from experience by way of sensation and reflection

Promotes the study of science and the scientific method

There are essential ideas and facts to be learned; therefore lecture and other formal methods of teaching are useful

Find specialization to be desirable Like structure

o ringing bells, departments, daily lesson plans If something exists, it can be measured

o IQ, Effective teaching Approve of competencies,

performance-based teaching, accountability

Teacher should present material in a systematic, organized way and teach that there are clearly defined criteria for making judgements in art, economics, politics, etc.

To a realist, the actuality of “chair” is important. A realist would measure the chair, weight it, examine the physical characteristics, etc. The fact that the chair exists is the ultimate truth.

The root of the word Pragmatism is a Greek word meaning “work”.

It is primarily a 20th century philosophy developed by Americans.

Truth is what works in the real world. We must keep the desired end in mind.

Ideas should be applied to solving problems; including social problems.

Auguste Comte, 1798-1857 o Not a pragmatist but emphasized

using science to solve social problems

Charles Darwin, 1809-1882o Reality is not found in Being, but

in Becomingo Reality is open-ended, in process,

with no fixed end.

Charles Sanders Peirce, 1839-1914 Widely acknowledged as the father of

pragmatism Wrote an article on “How to make our Ideas

Clear” in Popular Science Monthly that is regarded as the basis for pragmatism.

True knowledge of anything depends upon verfication of our ideas in actual experience

William James, 1842-1910o The truth of an idea is its “workability”o Truth is not absolute and immutable; rather it

is made in actual, real-life o James called his philosophy “radical

empericism”o James’s 1907 book “Pragmatism”

did much to promote pragmatism.o Rufus Stimson, a leader in agricultural

education, studied under James.

John Dewey, 1859-1952o Need to concentrate on real-life problemso Sought practical solutions for practical

problemso How We Think

• Felt Difficulty• Define the problem• Formulate possible solutions• Examine & Evaluate possible solutions• Accept or reject solutions

Education should be preparation for life Solving problems is important; therefore use real-

life situations Teaching methods should be varied and flexible Education should be action oriented Needs and interests of students should be

considered

Project approach to teaching is desirable Curriculum is varied A broad education is more desirable

To a pragmatist, the use of the “chair” is important. What is the purpose of the chair and does it fulfil that purpose? The “workability” of a chair is the ultimate truth.

Society is in need of constant reconstruction Such social change involves both a reconstruction

of education and the use of education in reconstructing society

Problems are viewed holistically Futuristic thinking (utopian thinking)

Do not believe preparing students for the world as it exists today will be sufficient (too much emphasis on the status quo)

link thought with action theory with practice intellect with activism

The goal of education should be to emphasize the need for change

Students should be out in the real world “World” curriculum Technology is valuable

in solving problems

George S. Counts Theodore Brameld Paole Freire Karl Marx Ivan Illich John Dewey (he is also recognized as a

pragmatist)

To a reconstructionist, the redesign of the “chair” to better serve the needs of society is important. How can the chair be improved to prepare society for the future?

Received new emphasis in the 60s and 70so Civil rightso Women rightso Individual rightso Special needs

In educationo curriculum was revamped to meet the needs (more

accurately - demands) of individualso mainstreamingo Pass or fail grade policieso extended drop deadlines in collegeo elimination of core courseso decline of corporal punishment

In extension there was a focus on serving non-traditional clientele

Focus shifted toward the urban environment

Traditional philosophies - consider questions about the nature of knowledge, truth and meaning but:o Existentialists are concerned with

how these things are educationally significant within the lived experiences of individuals.

People come first, then ideaso People create ideas

Emphasis on self discovery

A good education emphasizes individuality Students should take a positive role in shaping

their schools

Students shouldn’t have to:o attend classeso take examinationso receive grades

There is no set curriculum

Soren Kierkegaard Martin Heidigger Martin Buber Jean-Paul Sartre

To an existentialist, the individuals use of “chair” is important. Whatever the individual wants to do with the chair is important. The experience of the individual with the chair is the ultimate truth.

Idealism Realism Pragmatism Reconstructionism Existentialism