Metaphysics, Epistemology, Axiology (AdiBunt) Carson, Jamin (2005), A Philosophical Analysis of Objectivist Education, The University of Texas at Austin

Metaphysics Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the ultimate nature of reality or existence. It asks questions such as ‘What exists?’ or ‘What is real?’ Metaphysicians seek an irreducible foundation of reality or ‘first principles’ from which absolute knowledge or truth can be induced and deduced.

“What is Real. ” seems too simple Questions “What is Real?” seems too simple Questions. But Consider George Knight’s Example Bellow! [W]hat is exactly the nature of the floor upon which you stand? It may seem to have a rather straightforward existence. It is obviously flat, solid, and smooth; it has a particular color; it is composed of an identifiable material, such as wood or concrete; and it supports your weight…Suppose, however, that a physicist enters the room and is questioned about the reality of the floor. She will reply that the floor is made of molecules; that molecules consist of atoms, electrons, protons, and neutrons; and these, finally, of electric energy alone. A third position…is offered by a passing chemist…To him the floor is a hotbed of hydrocarbons associated in a particular way and subject to certain kinds of environmental influences, such as heat, cold, wetness, dryness, and oxidation.

Metaphysical questions are the most basic to ask because they provide the foundation upon which all subsequent inquiry is based.

Metaphysics is divided into 4 areas: Cosmology: It studies the Origin, nature, and Development of the Universe. (Q: How did the universe originate and develop?) Theology: It studies the nature of deities. (Q: Is there a God?) Anthropology: It Studies the Nature of man. (Q: What is the relationship between mind and Body?) Ontology (The most essential in metaphysics): It asks what it means to be.

Metaphysics And Education Metaphysical questions are the most basic to ask because they provide the foundation upon which all subsequent inquiry is based. The Greek citizens of Athens, for example, did not permit their girls to attend schools…[or] enter into the intellectual exchanges with the men…They [were] restricted…to the back part of the house where the cooking and household chores were done. (Metaphysical Assumption)

Metaphysics is relevant to education because like metaphysics, education is essentially about learning what is, however one defines education. If some thing does not exist schools usually do not teach it (e. g., astrology), Education, like metaphysics, means at its most basic level looking at reality, taking account of what we know exists (induction), and then deducing more information that is not self-evident from the data. Ex: Mathematics Read the Problem Listing the facts, solve the problem by intuitive common sense or a formalized logical system

Epistemology Epistemology is the study of the nature, source, and validity of knowledge. It asks the questions, ‘What is true?’ and ‘How do we know?’ before one can call his It means before one can call his knowledge true he must validate it by some means.

EPISTEMOLOGY AND EDUCATION example what is interesting about the following passage is that if one reads it with ‘education’ in the place of ‘epistemology’, the passage still makes sense. This is important because the two, education and epistemology, possess the same essential function. Epistemology is the motor of education in a sense because it drives the educational process. Whatever educational theories and practices one employs will be consistent with his or her theories and practices of epistemology. Therefore, as we discuss epistemology, we are essentially discussing education.

The purpose of [epistemology] is to guide man’s mind in the acquisition of knowledge, so that his conclusions at each step of his development correspond to the facts of reality. In essence—to condense a science into a sentence—what epistemology teaches man is: begin with the evidence of the senses; form concepts according to the actual (mathematical) relations among observed concretes; use and apply concepts according to the rules of (Aristotelian) logic. If you follow this method, with all of its implications, your conclusions have been validated and you are entitled to claim them as true

1. An individual or society confronts a problem. The specific method the pragmatist advocates for interacting with the environment is the scientific method, which can be regarded as a five-step process: 1. An individual or society confronts a problem. 2. A diagnosis or definition of the problem is made. 3. An inventory of possible solutions to the problem is constructed. 4. The individual or society conjectures the consequences of the possible solutions. 5. The consequences are tested. Dewey advocated using the scientific method in all aspects of life. He saw it as the perfect paradigm of thought.

Axiology Axiology is the Greek word for the study of values Values generally are of two types: what one does value and what one should value. Axiology asks the questions: What is a value? Where do values come from? How do we justify our values? How do we know what is valuable? What is the relationship between values and knowledge? What kind of values exist? Can it be demonstrated that one value is better than anther? Who benefits from values?1

The former regards values as anything an individual or a community deems worthy of valuing or useful, whereas the latter believes that values are absolute and exist independently of human creation. The objectivist view, by contrast, holds values that are determined by what reason dictates. In this sense, values do not exist apart from a human consciousness like the intrinsicist view, but neither are values subjective or relative to individuals or groups who select and reject them with respect to usefulness.

Axiology is usually divided into 2: Ethics: concerned with the behavior that one should exhibit or hold as best. Aesthetics: concerned with value judgments about what is beautiful or what one ought to value as beautiful. Although, ethics and aesthetics are two different branches of philosophy, they intersect one another. For example, ethical values are often concretized in art (aesthetic values). Any Rand’s novel Anthem is a work of fiction that concretizes the values of egoism, so the two values—literature and egoism—are acting in one.

AXIOLOGY AND EDUCATION It is impossible for education not to imply value, both explicit or implicitly. In this case, However axiology’s relationship to education is significant. AXIOLOGY AND EDUCATION Indeed, education is itself a value and I would argue is the most important determiner of success in education, more than one’s metaphysical or epistemological beliefs and practices. Those individuals and cultures that value education usually are successful in school, whereas those that do not value education usually are not successful.

How Important Value are to education If a teacher is not cognizant of the values he is promoting he can encourage the wrong values and consequently harm the development of impressionable youngsters.

What do you think on your belief SO,