2.

0 PHILOSOPHY
OF EDUCATION

2.1 CONCEPT OF
PHILOSOPHY
What is philosophy?
Etymologically the term philosophy come
from two Ancient Greek words; Philo and
Sophia.
Philo- means friends of or Lover of.
Sophia- means Wisdom.
Philosophy literally means ‘love of wisdom
or the pursuit of wisdom.
Wisdom is considered as a high degree of
knowledge.
‘it attempts to determine without bias the
"worth" of every variable in the
From the root source of philosophy
(etymological) we get comprehensive
meaning of philosophy.
Philosophy is a field of study that speculates
on the truth of any thing on the universe
surrounding man by rational procedures.
or
Philosophy is a rational critical thinking of
more or less systematic kind about the
general nature of the world or reality, the
justification of belief, the conduct of life and
correct reasoning.
or
Philosophy is the study of general and
fundamental problems concerning matters
such as existence, knowledge, truth, justice,
beauty, validity, mind, and language.
Philosophy is the study that deals with
the ultimate of the universe and
general causes and principles of
those things that man observes and
experiences.
It is committed to clarity and correct
reason.
The Root source of
philosophy
Philosophy aroused when Humans began to seek
/find the answers on the wonder about their world
with a desire to find answers to the physical and
non physical phenomena.

Human being sought to answer questions on the

meaning of;
 The universe and its original.
 Existence.
 The basic human conduct.

 Whether things were real or unknowable or

knowable and why?
 Questions on meaning of life after life.

 And examining of what people say and meanings

that they conveyed by what they say.
The study that was and still is presently
concerned with these broad issues is called
Philosophy.

WHO IS PHILOSOPHER?
Philosopher is any person who then speculate by
employing high degree of knowledge and
rational procedures.
Philosopher are expected to propound (suggest
an ideas) for other people view points which
can be defended by reason and which satisfy
human curiosity about the ultimate purpose of
their existence of the universe.
They posses the knowledge of scientist, moralist
or theologian. They can give the world overall
view of the universe which many generations
have found to morally, intellectually and
theologically satisfying.
Technical meaning of
Philosophy.
In technical meaning philosophy is
concerned with the professional
philosopher.
And it is viewed in three
Pespectives/Dimensions.

These are;
I. Philosophy as an activity.
II. Philosophy as an attitude.
[Link] as a content or
body of knowledge.
Dimensions of philosophy

Activity Attitude Content/Knowledge

Philosophy as an Activity
As an activity philosophy is best defined by
understanding what philosopher do.
Traditionally the central activities of
philosophy have been to Synthesize, to
Speculate, to Prescribe, and to Analyze.

a) Synthesis.
In synthesis philosopher is concerned with
providing comprehensive world view or
universe.
Synthesis is an important activity as it help to
understand the world we live in.
Synthesis is a task that is based on the
knowledge provided by various
specialized disciplines.
Example;
During teaching there is application of
various knowledge about human
beings acquired from different
disciplines like Psychology, Sociology,
economics, Science political science
etc. What teacher do is to synthesize
the knowledge into one whole and
apply it to teaching work.
By synthesis knowledge is shortened
so that the main points are standout
and away from details where by a
better understanding of subject
under consideration is achieved.
b) Speculation
By speculation philosopher attempt to think in the
most general and systematic way about any thing
in the universe or world.
Speculating is contemplating or thinking deeply. It
attempts to fill the gap from what we are limited in
terms of what we know or can know.
For Example Some matter of human existence are
beyond the realm of most disciplines. We do not
have enough data.
Speculation is some time referred as arm chair
thinking contemplating of metaphysical issues
which is primary between mater and idea?
What is nature of human beings?
Is he both material or spiritual?
By speculation
We rely on thinking, reasoning and
making inferences about them. In so
doing we go beyond what can be
demonstrated empirically through
our sensory experience.
c) Prescription
Prescription is also known as normative
function of philosophy.
By prescribing we seek to establish norms and
standards of performance and conduct. It
deals with question of value. It sets out ideas
for guiding practice. (Good and acceptable
behaviour). It further sets out criteria for
evaluating or appraising Achievements.
As we prescribe we define what is good or
right and what is wrong or bad. It expresses
on how people out to act or out not to act in
a given situations hence moral judgments.
d) Analysis
Analysis scrutinizes languages expressions used in
the statements on the truth under consideration. It
scrutinize language in an attempt to clarify what we
say in order to achieve precision or accuracy of
expression. The analytic philosopher operates on
the assumption that basic misunderstandings in
regards to meanings might be the root of human
problems in communications.
It involves critical examinations of the words we use
we use and statements we make. Examines the
meaning the words conveys in various context.
It also examines the use of logic in arguments by
testing the premises on which the conclusion is rest.
It make distinction between statements of facts and
statements of value judgments.
ii) Philosophy as an
Attitudes.
As an attitudes philosophy involves
three aspects.
i) Awareness of own biases.
ii) Desires for completeness/self
actualization.
iii) Openness to learning.
i) Awareness of own biases.
This means knowing the prejudices
(unreasonable dislike) one has on an issue.
Philosophers are honest with themselves
when it comes to personal biases,
predispositions and prejudices that will
tend to mislead them into making wrong
conclusion.
As an attitude philosophy tend to to make
us aware our biases we have on an issue
so that we can effectively take them into
account while interpreting information or
communication concerning given issue.
Our bias should not affect our judgements.
ii) Desires for
completeness/self
actualization.
• This is another attitudes philosophers
cultivates.
• It involves the attitudes of never being satisfied
with the knowledge currently available. It
provides desire of in depth examination of the
phenomena under consideration and avoid
rushing into the conclusion before ensuring that
relevant information on the issue is revealed.
• This involves also the tendency to collect as
much as relevant information on a subject as
possible, such information is to be synthesized
and cross examined before value judgment is
made on the issue.
• In self actualization philosopher expects to
conduct in depth investigation of problem in
search of basic principles, issues and solution.
iii) Openness to
learning
• This involves preparedness to
learn and change ones stance
on an issue in the light of
discovery of adequate evidence.
• It implies being open towards
learning more about an issue
before reaching a decision
concerning.
Philosophy as a
Content/Body of Knowledge.
As a content/body of knowledge or Subject
matter deals with study of questions.
It is concerned with Basic or fundamental
questions. Fundamental questions are
those which are meaningful, those that
people want answers answered and whose
answers are bound to change the way we
think and act.
Philosophy as a Content is organized around
four major realms. These realms are
Reality
Truth
Value and
Correct reasoning.
Philosophy as a content organizes
questions accordance with the reams
above.
Question on Reality – What is real?
Question on truth- What is true?
Question on Value- What is Value?
Question on Reasoning/rational- What
is rational?
These four Clusters of
questions make up four
branches of philosophy.

Branches of
philosophy.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Metaphysics - comes from two Greek
words;
Meta- Means After or beyond.
Physics- Stands for material reality.
Metaphysics is the study of material beyond
reality.
As a study metaphysics is
therefore interested in matters
that are beyond or transcend
material reality. It is the
systematic study of the ultimate
nature of reality.
Metaphysics represents
speculative and synthesizing
activities of philosophy that are
beyond our sensory impressions.
Metaphysical aspects enable us
study things that are beyond the
reach of our empirical faculties.
Metaphysical questions are
in four Sub-branches.
i. COSMOLOGY
ii THEOLOGY

[Link]

iv. .ONTOLOGY
i. Cosmology
Is the study of material nature in its
general aspects.
It is science of the origin, nature and
structure of universe as whole. Look on
scientific study of universe and its origins
and developments.
It is the study that probes with questions
related to the purpose of the universe,
with questions concerning time and its
nature or with questions of space.
ii. Theology
Is a critical study of the religious beliefs.
(Religion is the study of god and his
relation to man).
It study questions related to God, probing
whether there is a God or Not.
If there is, is there one or more than one
God?
What are the attributes of God?
If God is good and powerful how is it that
evil exists?
Are there such being as Angels and Satan?
If yes what are their relationship to God?
iii. Anthropology.
Deals with the study of man both as object and
as a subject of inquiry.
By anthropology we speak about ourselves.
Questions about relationship of mind and body;
About the nature of our moral status, whether
man is born good , evil Or neutral.
Whether he is born free and the nature of that
freedom.
Whether it is the man’s environment or his
genetic inheritance determine free will or not.
Whether humans have soul.
iv. Ontology.
Is the study of existence. It deals with the questions
such as meaning of existence and of existing,
What exists?
It encompasses everything that exists, as well as
the nature of existence itself. It says whether the
world is real, or merely an illusion. It is a
fundamental view of the world around us.
It further deals with fundamental reality.
Lawhead (2000): Fundamental reality is that which
everything else depend.
Reality may be spiritual such as God or any thing
that cannot be created or destroyed such as
particles, Forces or energy.
METAPHYSICS AND
EDUCATION.
Sub-branches OF METAPHYSICS have
great influence upon social, Political,
and Scientific Practices. Everyday we
find answers to these questions.
Therefore in Education metaphysics
have direct impacts in educational
issues such as.
Content of curriculum, what
education system should attempt to
do for both individuals and Societies.
The role of teacher as he/she relates
to the learner and our perception of
individual to be educated.
All of these, then determine the
purpose , methods, Content and the
context for Education.
[Link]
What is Epistemology?
Literally Epistemology is the “Theory of
knowledge”
The term is derived from Greek words
“episteme” and “Logia”
Episteme - means knowledge.
Logia means Study.
Epistemology is the study of knowledge.
It is branch of philosophy that studies
nature, source and validity or justification
of knowledge.
study of our method of
acquiring knowledge.
It seek to answer question like,

What is to know?

What is knowledge?

What is source of knowledge?

What is truth?

How do we come to know?
Epistemology is the
philosophy of knowledge, it
defines knowledge as truth &
justified belief.
It encompasses the nature of
concepts, the constructing of
concepts, the validity of the
senses, logical reasoning, as well
as thoughts, ideas, memories,
emotions, and all things
mentally.
It is concerned with how our
minds are related to reality, and
whether these relationships are
valid or invalid.
Sources and type of
knowledge
Five major sources of knowledge
have been identified as;
i. Senses
ii. Revelation
iii. Experts
iv. Reason
v. Intuition
Type of knowledge.
i. Empirical Knowledge.
ii. Revealed Knowledge.
[Link] knowledge.
[Link] knowledge.
v. Intuitive knowledge.
Empirical knowledge
Is a knowledge derived from Senses.
Senses includes that of hearing, sight
(seeing) smelling, touching and
testing.
The senses are reliable and verifiable
means of obtaining knowledge.
Empiricism is the approach to
knowledge through what are believed
to be most practically verifiable and
most reliable means.
Empirical knowledge is built upon
the very nature of the human
experience, gained from
assimilating observed data. Ideas
and concepts must be tasted by
tracing them back to an original
sensory experience.
Example, If you have no test buds
you could not tell what is sweet
or bitter.
Empiricists believe that conclusions
are based on probable truths
Revealed
Knowledge.
Is of prime importance in the field of Religion.
It is a kind of knowledge which comes to us
through revelation to God’s inspired
individuals and divine Books such as holy
Quran and holly Bible.
It is a kind of knowledge that presupposing a
transcendent supernatural reality.
Revelation is God’s communication
regarding the divine will.
(Revealed knowledge is a kind of knowledge
that accept truth which are beyond the
usual limits of human knowledge,
experiences that come from god/connected
God to improve situation)
The truth gained through this method
is said to be absolute and
uncontaminated.
Miracles- claims and confirms their
beliefs.
It is accepted merely through faith
which is difficult to prove empirically.
For empiricists, the major disadvantage
of revealed knowledge is that it must
be accepted though faith and not be
proved or disproved empirically.
Authoritative knowledge.
Is a kind of knowledge based on having
originated from experts or people who
have authority.
It is kind of knowledge or information that
originates with experts or has been made
authoritative over time by tradition.
People who have authoritative information
on the matter under consideration such as
researchers, inventors and writers.
Text books we use contain authoritative
knowledge.
authoritative
knowledge.
It Brings knowledge to all
without each of us going out to
search for same information and
to verify the knowledge claim.
It serves time and enhance
progress.
Example the Pythagoras theorem
discovered in 500BC is still valid
knowledge even today.
Rational knowledge.
Is a kind of knowledge that is claimed
from reasoning.
Reasoning or logic is a central source
of knowledge which is known as
rationalism.
The rationalists emphasizes that
man’s power of thought and what
mind contributes to knowledge is
likely to claim that senses alone can
not provide us with universally valid
judgments that are consistent with
one another.
The sensations must be organized
by the mind trough reasoning
into a meaningful whole before
they can become knowledge.
knowledge.
Intuitive
knowledge
• Is a kind of knowledge that involves
instance of coming to know without having
gone through the formal process of
reasoning or an intermediate stage of
thinking or sensory perception. (It is true
idea that you can not explain.
• It occur beyond consciousness and is
experienced as a sudden flash of insight.
• It is a person way of knowing in which
there is a direct apprehension of a
perspective accompanied by an
intense conviction that one has
discovered what one was looking for.
It is a kind of knowledge
obtained by using your
feelings rather than by
considering the fact or
Able to understand
something by using
feelings rather than by
considering the facts.
EPISTEMOLOGY AND
EDUCATION
Epistemology deals with question
knowledge; Therefore in education,
Help Educators think which is the best
form of knowledge and which are the
best ways of knowing.
Helps educators to choose/select best
way of educating/ best way in which
learners can get/acquire knowledge.
• Epistemology has a central role
in determining what we believe
in education as well as the
practices that we adopt in
education.
3. Axiology
Axiology is the study of general theory of
values. (Value is belief about what is right
and wrong and what is important in life
cultural and social)
This branch of philosophy studies question
like,
 What is value?
 Are value within the object or within the
mind?
 What are criteria by which we select
values or rank values.
Values system are built upon the concepts
of truth and reality.
However value system differ from one
society to another.
We always involved in comparing and
judging between two or more several
objects individuals or options, that is
we have preferences.
Rational man and social life are bent
upon system of value.
Sub divisions of axiology.

i) Ethics.

ii) Aesthetics.
Ethics (moral philosophy)
Ethics is the study of systems and customs
as seen in the lives of particular groups
of human beings.
It is connected with moral principles that
control or influence a person behaviour.
It is our means of deciding a course of
action. Without it, our actions would be
random and aimless.
It focus on study moral values and human
conduct. It inquires systematically into
and analyses the principles and
problems of morality.
Ethics seeks to answer question like;
What is good life for all people?
Does good exist?
What is good conduct?
What standard by which a good action
is judged?
ETHICS enhance judgments about
wrongness, goodness or badness,
desirability or undesirability.
Study of ethical theory concern
itself in involving or providing
right values as the foundation of
right actions.
The purpose is then to find or set
up some ideas or standard of
conduct or character.
Aesthetics (Philosophy of
Art)
Is the study concerned with values in the ream
of beauty and art. It studies questions related
to the nature of beauty, especially in art and
the criteria and standard of evaluating art.
It is ream of theory that is closely related to
imagination and creativity and therefore tend
to become highly subjective and personal.
Aesthetics deal mainly with beauty.
Where does beauty reside?
Is the beauty in the eye of beholder or is it in
the thing that is being observed?
What are the key elements
of a proper Esthetics?
• Art is a selective recreation of reality.
Its purpose is to concretize an
abstraction to bring an idea or emotion
within the grasp of the observer. It is a
selective recreation, with the selection
process depending on the value
judgments of the creator. These value
judgments can be observed and
evaluated via the field of ethics.
Values in Education.
Values are within Human life;
 Help to Setup ideal or standard of
Conduct or Character in Class and school
in general.
 Aesthetics helps in designing school
compound, Classroom features that
encourage effective learning.
 Helps to make the physical environment
of the school attractive to outsiders.
 Helps in designing the school uniform as
it deal with beautiful.
• It is one of the tool for judging
what is right or wrong , bad or
good for both human conduct in
school setting/ institutions.
(Acceptable behaviours).
4. Logic
(An art of non Contradictory Identification)
Is the study of Principles and methods of
Correct reasoning or valid inferences.
Logic is interested in examining the
correctness of the products of reasoning
and the grounds or premises which
conclusion rests.
It teach us to present our thoughts and
statements correctly.
It asks reasons for accepting the given claim.
logic
• It is concerned with the justification of
ideas and statement and not with the
internal thinking process.
• It is further concerned with consistency,
examines lack of consistency in
arguments, matters of validity and truth
and conclusion made.
Arguments is said to be valid if and when
conclusion follows from what is stated in
the premises. But not every argument is
true.
Logic and education
It help us to clarify concepts ,
languages, assumptions, and
evidences so as to approach the task
of education effectively.
It analyses and improve our
understanding of issues by laying
them bare of their ambiguities as it
uses knowledge from diverse
disciplines.
Philosophy of
Education

What is
Philosophy of
Education?
• Philosophy of education refers to
application of philosophy and methods of
philosophy in the tackling or solving to
educational problems.

• Philosophy of Education attempts to

discover what education really is and
how it takes place. It is a tool for
directing the development of desirable
attributes in educational system in the
context of intellectual, moral, and
spiritual requirements of mankind.
What are importance
of Philosophy of
Education?
Explain.
References
1). TIE (2007); Diploma in Secondary school
Curriculum, Module: Foundations of
Education. Tanzania Institute of Education, Dare
es salaam Tanzania.
2). TIE (1999);Module for foundations of
education, Diploma in Education; Tanzania
Institute of education, Dar es salaam.
3). Nyirenda,S,D & Ishumi,A.G.M(2002);
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION, An introduction
to concepts, Principles and Practice; DUP,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
4). Ndunguru, S (1984); Educational
Essays For Teachers. East African
Publication Limited, Arusha,
Tanzania.
5). Ngaroga,J,M (2005); Revision
Professional studies for Primary
Teacher Education, East African
Educational publisher, Nairobi,
Kenya.
6). Find other related source of
materials from internet such as;
.
•[Link]
nformation/the-meaning-of
-[Link]
• [Link]
[Link]/FiveBranchesMa
[Link]
And Others.
Two other Categories
of Philosophies and
education

[Link]
Philosophy.
[Link] Philosophy.
Traditional
Philosophy
Follow into two types.
i) Idealism.
ii)Realism.
Idealism
It is a philosophy in which basic
thesis lie on the ideas. Ideas are
primary and matter is the
derivatives of ideas.
Idealist contend that matter does
not exist except in the form of
ideas in the mind. Any thing to be
has to be perceived by mind, thus
ideas.
Example; you can not begin to
make table then think design
instead you think to
Conceptualize the table (idea)
then design of the table.
Idealism considers the human
spirit as the most important
element in life.
Basic Premises of
Idealism include:
 Reality is reducible to fundamental
substance of Spirit.
 Reality is not Concerned with Physical
things.
 Material thing are not real.
 Knowledge can not be obtained in other
ways other than the scientific methods.
 Faith, authoritarianism and intuition are
the main instruments of knowledge.
Idealism in education.
• In education idealism view learning as a
highly intellectual process involving recall
and working with concepts.
• Education develop intellect. To be
educated simply means an ability to
become aware of ideas and organizing
those ideas into a whole system.
• Idealists support Specialized or
vocationalised education for preparation
for work only as subordinate to liberal or
general education.
• Idealism helps to remember
accumulated knowledge of
curriculum over a period of time as
they progress in school levels. To
respond to this curriculum is
developed in organized bodies of
knowledge succeed each other from
the simple to complex.
Realism.
• Realism was a reaction to the
abstractness of idealism. Realists
argue that things have their own
existence and do not depend on
the human consciousness. (Things
exists independently of the
perceiver or knower). They are
characterized buy independence,
permanence and publicity.
•For realists, what is true is
what is something that is
observable. Knowing
means to have knowledge
about an object and involve
an interaction between the
human mind and the world
outside of mind.
Basic premises of Realism
(materialism or
Naturalism)
• Sum total of reality is the physical
world.
• Any thing beyond the physical world
is not reality what is conceived in
mind is not reality.
• Man is one within his material
environment.
• Man does not exist as spiritual being.
Realism and
education.
• For realists the goal of education is to help
human beings attain happiness by living in
harmony with nature by enabling the
learner adequately to understand the laws
nature. People are not free to make
choice. They are subject to law of nature.
• The aim of education is to prepare man for
life in this world for life in another world.
• Truth is gained through senses, learning
experiences are also organised in the
manner that utilises the senses.
• Modern realist teacher favour
demonstrations in classroom, field
trips, and use of audio visual aids.
Modern philosophies and
education.
Modern philosophies proposals for new
conceptual frameworks for viewing reality.
It provides an adequate framework for
understanding the new realities brought
about by foe example industrialization,
exploration of knowledge due to scientific
and technological development, social,
urbanization , poverty and the resultant of
changing world.
Modern philosophies
includes.
1) Pragmatism.
2) Existentialism.
3) Marxism.