1. Philosophy: Reflections on the Essence of Education
Chapter 4
Philosophy: Reflections on the Essence of Education

2. Study of Philosophy
Philosophy seeks to understand fundamental principles
Teachers must understand underlying assumptions
Philosophy provides tools to think clearly
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

3. Philosophical Thinking
Analytic thinking, questions what seems to be
Prophetic thinking, addresses what ought to be
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

4. Analytic Thinking Abstraction, discerning general, universal ideas
Imagination, filling in details, connecting ideas
Generalization, determines relationship emphasis
Logic, movement from one argument to another
Inductive logic, from specific to general
Deductive logic, from general to specific
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

5. Prophetic Thinking
Discernment, capacity to develop vision based on context
Connection, ability to value and develop empathy
Tracking hypocrisy, ability to identify and expose gaps
Hope, develop vision for brighter future
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

6. Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics, what is the nature of reality
Epistemology, what is knowledge and truth
Axiology, what is good and valuable
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

7. Metaphysics questions
What is reality?
What is essence?
Classroom philosophy linked to metaphysical beliefs
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

8. Epistemology What knowledge is true? How does knowledge take place?
Is there a difference between knowledge and belief?
Curriculum influenced by philosophy on knowledge
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

9. Axiology What is good? What is beautiful?
What values should we uphold?
Deals with ethics (moral values) and aesthetics (beauty)
Curriculum and classroom influenced axiological beliefs
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

10. Schools of Philosophy
Idealism, ideas and concepts are essence of knowing
Realism, reality, knowledge exists outside the mind
Pragmatism, universe is dynamic, ever-changing
Existentialism, reality found in lived-experiences
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

11. Idealism in the Classroom
Focus on ideas, ideas are fundamental
Real learning comes from within
True growth must be self-initiated
Study of great works
Imitate great leaders
Teacher is ideal model
Lecture, discussion, imitation
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

12. Contributors to Idealism
Plato, truth is central reality.
Knowledge is discovered not created
Socrates, knowledge brought forth through questioning
Teaching as process of helping students recognize
Immanuel Kant, knowledge gained through reasoning
Jane Roland Martin, development of intellectual, moral habits
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

13. Socratic Dialogue Students’ beliefs challenged through questions
Learners reflect, induce general principles, discover gaps and contradiction in their beliefs
Useful for a variety of content areas
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

14. Realism in the Classroom
Focus on scientific research, reality can be measured
Rationality through study of organized body of knowledge
Teach methods to arrive at knowledge
Critical reasoning through observation, experimentation
Subject centered curriculum
Teacher presents information in systematic way
Support careful testing of students knowledge
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

15. Contributors to Realism
Aristotle,
Need for cheap labor, imported African slaves
European indentured servants
Two primary classes, wealthy landowners, laborers
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

16. Pragmatism in the Classroom
Teacher helps students question what is
Interdisciplinary approach to problem solving
Knowledge subject to revision
Students learn to construct, use, test knowledge claims
Problem solving through interaction with environment
Students learn method of scientific inquiry
Teacher facilitates student investigation, collaboration
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

17. Contributors to Pragmatism
Charles Sanders Pierce, belief is a habit of actions
John Dewey, individual experiences are central
Richard Rorty, reality outcome of inquiry
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

18. Existentialism in the Classroom
Schools de-emphasize, objectify students
Tracking, measurement stifles creativity
Students, teacher discuss lives and choices
Teacher facilitates Q & A, dialogs
Series of self-reflective questions
Pedagogy promotes self-actualization
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al

19. Contributors to Existentialism
Jean Paul Sartre, existence before essence
Friedrich Nietzsche, importance of individuality
Maxine Greene, humans transcend their world
Foundations of American Education, 15e Johnson, et al