4 Chapter 4: Foundational Philosophies of Education
4 Chapter 4: Foundational Philosophies of Education
A philosophy is often defined as the foundation upon which knowledge is based. However, when you break apart the actual word, a much different meaning emerges. Derived from the Greek “philos,” which means love, and “sophos,” which means wisdom, the actual meaning of the word philosophy is love of wisdom (Johnson et. al., 2011).
In this chapter, we will explore how traditional philosophies have evolved over time by briefly looking at three key branches of philosophy. Then, the schools of philosophy and their influence on education will be presented. Finally, you will hear from educators in the field and see how they put their “philosophies” of education into practice.
Section I: Schools of Philosophy
4.1 Essential Questions
At the end of this section, the following essential questions will be answered:
- What are the four main schools of philosophy?
- Who were the key philosophers within each school of philosophy?
- What are the key implications of each school of philosophy on education today?
There are four broad schools of thought that reflect the key philosophies of education that we know today. These schools of thought are: Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, and Existentialism. It is important to note that idealism and realism, otherwise known as general or world philosophies, have their roots in the work of the ancient Greek philosophers: Plato and Aristotle. Whereas pragmatism and existentialism are much more contemporary schools of thought.
It is important to study each school of thought because they shape the way we approach education today. Specifically, each school of thought directly impacts how curriculum is developed, implemented, and assessed.
Idealism
Idealism is a school of philosophy that emphasizes that “ideas or concepts are the essence of all that is worth knowing” (Johnson et. al., 2011, p. 87). In other words, the only true reality is that of ideas. Based on the writings of Plato, this school of philosophy encourages conscious reasoning in the mind. Furthermore, idealists look for, and value, universal or absolute truths and ideas. Consequently, idealists believe that ideas should remain constant throughout the centuries.
Key Philosophers
Plato (ca. 427 – ca. 347 BCE):
Plato believed that truth was the central reality. However, Plato did not believe that people created knowledge, instead they “discovered it” (Johnson et. al., 2011). In his book, The Republic, Plato talked about two worlds: the spiritual or mental world and the world of appearance. Reacting against what he perceived as too much of a fo- cus on the physical and sensory world, Plato called for education to “develop in the body and the soul of the pupil all the beauty and all the perfection he is capable of.” (Cohen, 1999, p. 1). In addition, to understand truth, Plato believed you must first understand knowledge.
4.2 A Closer Look
- How does the Allegory of the Cave give us insight into Plato’s conception of realit