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Education is the dynamic side of
philosophy". Interpret the statement in
relation to the functions education
with philosophical belief.j
Answers
Answer:
Meaning of Philosophy
The word ‘Philosophy’ is made up of two Greek words – ‘Philo’ and ‘Sophia’. Philo means ‘love’ and Sophia means ‘wisdom.’ Philosophy is the ‘love of wisdom or knowledge.’ In Indian philosophy, ‘darsana’ is the word used for philosophy. It means ‘the vision of the real or truth’, which is nothing but God. The aim of philosophy is the search for wisdom. One who is engaged in this process may be said to be a philosopher. In his famous book ‘Republic’, Plato says, “He who has a taste for every sort of knowledge and who is curious to learn and is never satisfied may be justly termed a Philosopher.”
Philosophy endeavours to understand all that comes within the boundary of human experience. Philosophy is the search for a comprehensive view of nature. It is an attempt at a universal explanation of the nature of things.
Definitions of Philosophy:
Some definitions have been offered to understand the term philosophy. Listed below are a few of them.
1. Philosophy is the science of knowledge – Fichte
2. Philosophy is the science and criticism of cognition – Kant
3. Philosophy aims at the knowledge of the eternal nature of things – Plato
4. Philosophy is the science which investigates the nature of being as it is in itself – Aristotle.
5. Philosophy like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge – Bertrand Russell
6. Philosophy is a logical enquiry into the nature of reality – Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Scope of Philosophy in Education:
The general scope of philosophy is very vast. Within its scope, we discuss soul, God, mystic powers, the origin of the universe, its expansion and development, truth, morality, aesthetics and logic.
The subject Philosophy can be divided into three major divisions – They are:
i. Metaphysics,
ii. Epistemology and
iii. Axiology
These branches are particularly important in the various aspects of education ranging from curriculum construction to its transaction in the classroom.
1. Metaphysics: Metaphysics is that branch of philosophy, which deals with the nature of reality. Metaphysics tries to answer the question, “What is real?” The purpose of education is to explain ‘reality’ to the students. Is there a purpose in life? Does life have a meaning? Is there a set of enduring principles that guide the operation of the universe?” etc. It was Aristotle who developed the study of Metaphysics.
2. Epistemology: Whereas metaphysics is concerned with the nature of reality, Epistemology focuses on our knowledge of this reality. Epistemology deals with the theory concerning the various aspects of knowledge and its acquisition. Epistemology tries to answer, “How do we get knowledge? How does a man know what is real? Knowledge is of different types – revealed knowledge (revelation), intuitive knowledge (intuition), empirical knowledge (experience), rational knowledge (reason) and authoritative knowledge (authority sources).
3. Axiology: Axiology is that branch of Philosophy, which is concerned with values. It is an attempt to discover and recommend principles for deciding what actions and qualities are most worthwhile and why they are so. Axiology has two major sub divisions – Ethics and Aesthetics. Ethics is concerned with good and bad, right and wrong and approval and disapproval as well as virtue and vice. Aesthetics is inquiry into the nature of what is beautiful or ugly and why it is so. Axiology is the source of the aim of education. All education and all form of schooling are integrated with values of life. Consciously or unconsciously, teachers are agents of value development and transmission.
Explanation:
Relationship between Philosophy and Education:
Educational philosophy is the application of the different aspects of philosophy in education. Education is the best means for the propagation of a Philosophy. John Adams says, “Education is the dynamic side of Philosophy. It is the active aspect of philosophical belief, a practical means of realizing the ideals of life.”