Compare and contrast Education and Philosophy

Relationship between Philosophy and Education

Education is the basic human need, and essential for a decent living and moral life. Without education the
human society would be uncivilized and useless hum grouping, without any social, political, religious, and
physical developments. Before discussing the relationship between philosophy and education first we would
understand and what is education and then philosophy.
Definition of Philosophy

 There is no exact definition of philosophy, but in general sense philosophy is considered as:
 The love for wisdom
 Relational approach to any phenomenon
 To seek justification of something through rational interpretation
Definitions of Education
Education has been defined by various scholars according to their cultural and social set ups. The few
definitions are as follows:

 Plato says, education is to develop physically and mentally a human being, in such a way that his / her
potentialities could be realized.
 Aristotle says, education is the process though which a sound mind is developed in a sound body.
 According to Dewey education is the process to develop all the capabilities of a person as he/she could
control his/her environment and fulfill his / her duties.
 Al Ghazali says, education is the process to enable an individual to know between true and false, good
and bad, and right and wrong conducts.
 AlMaududi says, education is the process to bring the potential good in a man.
Philosophy and education are two different fields of studies, but they are closely linked together, because
without any rational thinking prior to education, the whole educational process is directionless.
Philosophy and education have deep relationship. The goals are set by philosophy, and education tells us how
to get there. Philosophy is a way of thinking and education is a way of doing things. Education is a form of
practical philosophy. Whereas, education focuses on the concrete, philosophy is more concerned with
abstractions. Two sides to the coin: education and philosophy. All of history’s greatest thinks were also among
its greatest teachers.
Education’s Purpose and Objectives
The dominant educational philosophy dictates the educational objectives. Different educational philosophies
prescribe different educational goals. When it comes to education, Idealism focuses on self-improvement,
while naturalism focuses on self-defense. Education aims can vary depending on the philosophy in place at
any given time. Those who believe in democracy are more likely to become democrats. In a nutshell,
philosophy is the driving force behind education’s goals.
Curriculum and Philosophical Thoughts
To achieve the goals of education, a school’s curriculum includes all the activities and experiences it offers its
students. When it comes to deciding on a schools’ curriculum, nowhere is the philosophical dependence on
education more apparent than in practise. The curriculum’s content is determined by philosophical principles.
Depending on the philosophy of the school, the curriculum’s content can be quite different.
Idealists stress the importance of life’s higher value and advocate for the study of religion, ethics, logic,
literature, the arts, and the humanities among other subjects.
Functioning and social sciences are favoured by pragmatic thinkers.
Pragmatists include language, social studies, general science, practical
arithmetic, and arts and crafts in their curriculum. There is a practical
purpose to these topics
Functioning and social sciences are favored by pragmatic thinkers. Pragmatists include language, social
studies, general science, practical arithmetic, and arts and crafts in their curriculum. There is a practical
purpose to these topics.

Teaching PBBFDFhilosophy and Methods

The two, philosophy and teaching methods, are inseparably linked. As a discipline, philosophy is a way of
life. The act of establishing and maintaining physical contact between a student and the material being
taught is known as the teaching method. Teaching methods vary from system to system based on their
philosophical foundations. Methods such as lectures, roundtable discussions, and question-and-answer
sessions are all part of the idealist teaching approach. Naturalists place a high priority on the education of
children. They advocate hands-on, experiential learning. Proactivists are proponents of project
management, problem-solving techniques, and team-based approaches.
Educator and Philosopher
The educational process would not be what it is without the teacher. Asa person and as a teacher, a teacher
needs to study philosophy. As a teacher, philosophy has a profound impact on your thinking and your teaching.
A teacher is both a thinker and a doer, with their own set of ideas and convictions. A teacher has a profound
impact on a student’s mindset and outlook on life. Having high ideals, ethics, and morals, one can be
considered an idealistic teacher. He must serve as an example for the students. Teachers are seen as stage-
setters in Naturalism, who work behind the curtain. Teachers, according to Pragmatism, are friends and guides
to their students, helping them grow as individuals.
Textbooks and Philosophical Thought
A text book lays out the expectations for what knowledge students should possess. For textbooks to be
accepted by society, they must adhere to the prevailing educational philosophy and national ideals.
Discipline and Philosophy
The discipline's nature and form are determined by philosophy. The student’s behavior is what defines
discipline. A country’s political, economic, and philosophical outlook is always reflected in the
discipline it employs. A nation’s health is dependent on its citizens ‘adherence to a strict code of personal
conduct. Idealists believe in a strict regimen of mental and physical discipline. A discipline of natural
consequences is held by naturalists and a free discipline by pragmatists. A democratic and socially
conscious view of discipline has emerged, one that is in harmony with democratic values such as political
integrity and the preservation of the environment.
1. PHILOSOPHY IS INTER- RELATED TO EDUCATION.
1. Philosophy is theory and Education is practice.
2. Theory leads to practice & practice leads to theory.
3. Philosophy contemplates, and Education applies.
4. Philosophy is theory of education and Education is applied philosophy.
5. Philosophy is bound to have an educative effort and educative effort is bound to be rooted in
philosophy.

2. PHILOSOPHY IS DEPENDENT ON EDUCATION.

1. Philosophy is dependent on education in the sense that Philosophy follows education. Almost all
philosophers propagated their philosophies through education.
2. Here are few reasons why philosophy is dependent on education:
❖ Education as a base: Education provides a base for creation of Philosophy. An educated person can
think systematically, methodically, and rationally.
❖ Education as transmitter and propagator: Education transmits Philosophy from one generation to
another, it keeps Philosophy alive. It propagates philosophy otherwise it’ll be lost.
❖ Education is a form giver: Education provides concrete form to philosophy by translating it into
action.
❖ Education an acquaintance: Education acquaints philosophy with new problems.
❖ Education as tester: Education tests philosophy in actual working conditions.
❖ Education as producer: Education gives birth to new philosophies.
❖ Education as the dynamic side: two things are necessary for completing any task i.e. thought & app.

● Great philosophers have been great educators also: in 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.”
● Philosophy determines the various aspects of education: it is the function of educational philosophy to
decide the aims of education. Every aspect of education has a philosophical base. There is no aspect
of education-- aims, curriculum, methods, textbooks, discipline teacher etc. which is not influenced and
determined by philosophy. Height and breadth of education is probed in by philosophy.

● Philosophy has influenced all the aspects of education- aims, curriculum, methods, discipline, role of
teacher and the like.
 ● Philosophy and aims of education: It is the function of educational psychology to decide about aims of
education. Every system of education must have an aim. Without an aim education is meaningless. The
aim of education is directly related to aim of life and the aim of life is always dependent on the philosophy
that prevails. The aims of education have been changing with the changing philosophy of life. They have
varied in different countries in accordance with the changing philosophy of life.
● Philosophy and curriculum: curriculum is the content of education. It is just like gun powder for the
soldier. Through curriculum education becomes effective or ineffective. It changes with the aims of
education, which are determined by philosophy.

PHILOSOPHY AND TEXTBOOKS:
o Curriculum can be enforced only through proper selection of textbooks. A philosophy is needed
to determine the quality and contents of textbooks. A good textbook must reflect prevailing
values of life fixed by philosophy.
o Philosophy and methods of teaching: it is the function of philosophy of education to decide
about instructional techniques. Philosophy influences and determines the methods of teaching
as well. Teaching method has an important place in education, it is through a method that the
teacher establishes and maintains the contact between the child and the subject- matter.
o Philosophy and discipline: it is the function of educational philosophy to decide about the type of
discipline required to be imposed in the educational institutions. Like curriculum, textbooks and
methods, discipline too is determined by philosophy of life accepted at a particular time.

PHILOSOPHY AND TEACHER:
A teacher is the kingpin of social fabric. Teacher has a very important role to play in education. A
teacher who is well-aware of the philosophy of life and education is very successful in his/her job. The
process of education cannot go on right lines without the help of philosophy.

PHILOSOPHY HELPS THE TEACHER IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:

1. Understanding: Philosophy helps teacher in understanding pupil, his life, actions, ideas, and
problems.
2. Direction: Philosophy provides direction to the teacher.
3. Guide: Philosophy serves as guide to the teacher food experiments.
4. Clarification: Philosophy provides clarification of the nature of education to the teacher.
5. Rationality: Philosophy provides reason with faith. It enables the teacher to think critic constructively
and rationally.

Finally, we can conclude that philosophy and education are inseparable. Education's aims,
curriculum, methods of teaching, and teacher and discipline are all influenced by philosophy. Philosophy and
education are intertwined. Teaching and learning are both influenced by philosophy.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND PHILOSOPHY.

Philosophy and education can be viewed as two disciplines between which certain differences can be
identified. Philosophy refers to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and the existence.
Education refers to the process of acculturating individuals into the society. This highlights that the focus of
education and philosophy is not identical. However, in philosophy a specific branch considered as the
philosophy of education pays attention to the concepts, values, aims and problems in education in a holistic
manner. Through this article let us examine the differences between philosophy and education.
This highlights that education is quite different from philosophy although there is a specific branch is
called the philosophy of education that merges the two together.

Education is a sacred necessity of life, equally from the biological or even sociological perspective. It is
philosophy, that delivers the object, or the goal and it is education that makes it practical which is the common
attachment between these two. In some other term Education is a laboratory where philosophic theories and
concepts are evaluated and made concrete. Education may, for this reason, be rightly considered applied
philosophy. Philosophy is wisdom; education pushes that wisdom from one generation to the other.

Philosophy is in inescapable fact the theory of education. To put it differently, education is the dynamic
side of philosophy, or application of the fundamental principles of philosophy. Philosophy formulates the
procedure, education its process. Philosophy provides ideals, values and principles.
Difference between Philosophy and Education?
A. Philosophy: - concentrates on the fundamental features of knowledge, reality and presence.
Education:- concentrates on the transmission of knowledge to the younger generations
 B. Philosophers:- Query the varied phenomena of the world that allows you to understand reality.
Education:- Absolutely does not engage in this particular procedure. It transmits knowledge and builds
up individual personalities.

Focus of Philosophy and Education:

• Philosophy focuses on the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence.

• Education focuses on the transmission of knowledge to the younger generations.

Method of Functioning

• Philosophers question the varied phenomena of the world in order to understand reality.
• However, education does not engage in such a procedure. Instead, it transmits knowledge and develops
individual personalities.

Philosophy and Education:

1. Philosophy attempts to value the objectives, goals, issues, and conceptual frameworks of
education in a specific branch referred to as the philosophy of education.
2. Principles and values of life learnt through education and experience gives birth to philosophy in
one's life. Philosophy lays the foundation of leading one's life based on our principles. Education is
the source of learning and philosophy it's applications in our daily life.
Prepared By:
Michelle M. Cua-Villarias, LPT
MAED-MATH