Philosophy of Education (EDU601)

Assignment I (Spring 2021)

Total Marks: 20

Q1)
Aims of education in the light of Plato’s educational philosophies

Plato became a poet and mystic, in addition to a truth seeker and dialectician combining, in an
extraordinary degree, first rate powers of logical evaluation and summary concept with awesome
poetic creativeness and deep mystical feeling. Plato became born among 424 and 423 B.C.E.
Both of his mother and father got here from the Greek aristocracy.

Philosophical Rationale

Although Plato did now no longer explicitly divide philosophy into logic, metaphysics (physics),
and ethics (realistic philosophy, inclusive of politics), he uses the sort of department in his
works. His paintings blanketed a large spectrum of hobbies and thoughts: mathematics,
technology and nature, morals and political idea
. 1. A rational element (the element that loves reality, which have to rule over the opposite
components of the soul via the usage of cause),
2. A lively element (which loves honor and victory), and
3. An appetitive element (which dreams meals, drink, and sex),

Concept of knowledge and Concept of Soul

Plato had mentioned that that allows you to stay rational and excellent lifestyles we need to have
expertise of the excellent. He did now no longer gift an idea of the technique of accomplishing it;
however he practiced the artwork of evolving reality withinside the shape of the dialogue.

1. A rational element (the element that loves reality, which have to rule over the opposite
components of the soul via the usage of cause),

2. A lively element (which loves honour and victory), and 3. An appetitive element (which
dreams meals, drink, and sex), Justice may be that circumstance of the soul wherein every of
those
3 components “does its personal paintings,” and does now no longer intrude withinside the
workings of the opposite components . When those 3 inward ideas are in tune, every doing its
right paintings, the person is just.

Plato Concept of Education

Plato gave enormous significance to training. In his treatise ”The republic”, Plato has handled
training in details. According to Plato- Education the preliminary acquisition of distinctive
feature through the infant, while the emotions of delight and affection, ache and hatred, that
properly up in his soul are channelled withinside the proper guides earlier than he can apprehend
the cause why… training, then is an issue of effectively disciplined emotions of delight and
ache . Apart from this definition, Plato sees training as “… to make certain that the addiction and
aspirations of the antique technology are transmitted to the younger- after which probably to the
following one after that”.

Plato ideas vs matter:

However, consistent with Plato, training is an issue of conversion. i.e. a whole flip round from
the sector of appearances to the sector of the reality. ‘The conversion of the souls’, says Plato,
‘isn't always to position the energy of sight withinside the soul’s eye, which already has it,
however to insure that, in preference to searching withinside the incorrect direction, it's far grew
to become the manner it have to be’ .

Goal of Education

Plato’s philosophy of training targets at getting ready inexperienced persons for destiny
lifestyles. Plato held the view that with out training, the person might make no development any
greater than a affected person who believed in curing himself through his personal loving
treatment with out giving up his high-priced mode of living. Therefore, Plato said that training
touches the evil on the grass root and modifications the entire outlook on lifestyles.
In “Laws’ he says repeatedly: “Education is the primary and the fairest component that the
first-class of guys can ever have”. According to Plato the intention of training is the welfare of
each the protection of the society and the meals of person. He became of the opinion that
training have to expand the experience of thoughts in humans in whom the capacity is there, and
have to reason and direct every one via the steering of philosophers for the overall performance
of these works which suits them clearly to perform
Platonic System of Schools:
Due to the variations of intelligence and talents, Plato advised that exclusive faculties have to be
mounted that allows you to meet the desires of those humans; rulers, squaddies and population
have to be knowledgeable separately.

Age School (Learning Stage) Special Development or Studies

Birth to 3 years Infancy Bodily growth, sensory life, no fear, child
reacts to pleasure and pain.
4 to 6 years Nursery Play, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, myths, gets
rid of self-will.
6 to 13 years Elementary school Play, poetry, reading, writing, singing,
dancing, religion, manners, numbers,
geometry.
13 to 16 years Instrumental Music Play the Cithara, religious hymns, memorize
poetry, arithmetic.
16 to 20 years Gymnastic and the Formal gymnastics and military training. No
military intellectual training.
20 to 30 years Sciences Coordination of reason and habits; inter-
relating the physical sciences.
30 to 35 years Dialectic Philosophy, psychology, sociology,
government law, education.
35 to 50 years Service to State
50 to end Philosophers Higher philosophy

Organization  of Curriculum

In The Republic, Plato has mentioned his intention of Education, his belief of ways training have
to continue at exclusive ranges of lifestyles, and approximately the content material of training
and a properly described curriculum. for it. In the republic he has drawn up a blue print of what
our best society have to be and what position training has to play withinside the upkeep of justice
and the capabilities of various social classes.

Learning Process:
In the studying process, each Plato wanted realistic paintings to be included. For instance Plato
insisted that individuals who need to be excellent developers or excellent husbandman have to
examine nearly their paintings. Plato emphasized this factor on this manner: …I insist that a
person who intends to be excellent at a selected profession need to exercise it from childhood:
each at paintings and at play he need to be surrounded through the special ‘gear of the trade’. For
example a person who intends to be an excellent farmer need to play at farming, and the person
who's to be a builder need to spend his play time constructing toy houses. Plato taken into
consideration the position of lifestyle in studying. it is thru lifestyle that one learns or is aware of
approximately the records of his/her society.

Plato’s   Method  of Instruction- The Dialectical Method

Plato is in desire of training in a unfastened surroundings with none compulsion or check. Plato
doesn’t write treatises, however writes in an oblique manner, encouraging the reader to invite
questions and assume for himself. But, like his instructor Socrates, Plato is regularly glad to play
position of observer instead of a preacher. Plato says all factors of preparation have to be
provided to the thoughts in childhood, nor how ever, beneathneath any belief of forcing . He says
that , ” it's far higher for a learner to be a unfastened guy and now no longer to a slave in the
purchase of expertise.” According to Plato expertise that's received beneathneath compulsion
detains no maintain at the minds of the bearers. Plato believed that there has been no compulsion
in coaching and it have to be greater of an amusement. The instructor need to recognize his or
her subject, however as a real truth seeker she or he additionally is aware of that the bounds in
their expertise. It is right here that we see the energy of dialogue – the joint exploration of a
subject – ‘expertise will now no longer come from coaching however from questioning’. In this
technique, the truth seeker collects all the times of a few universal class that appear to have not
unusual place characteristics, after which divides them into particular types till they cannot be in
addition subdivided.

Socrates educational philosophies

Introduction
- Socrates was born in 469 BC and died in 399 BC.
 - He was a Greek philosopher and teacher.
- Socrates agreeing with Plato in his book ‘Apology’ says
“The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being.”

The above quotation shows that his methods are analytical, and are based on the analysis of
human being. So, he generally analysed his fellow Athenians and then tried understanding the
concepts in the society and also have been telling others what is right and what is wrong?
- He is known as the father of philosophy
- His method was the use of critical reasoning, with an unwavering comment to truth.
- No written records by Socrates himself.
- His two students Plato and Xenophon have quoted his methods and analysis.

Goal of Education:
 Theory of Value

Socrates believed that there were different kinds of knowledge, important and trivial. He
acknowledges that most of us know many "trivial" things. He states that the craftsman possesses
important knowledge, the practice of his craft, but this is important only to himself, the
craftsman. But this is not the important knowledge that Socrates is referring to. The most
important of all knowledge is "how best to live." He posits that this is not easily answered, and
most people live in shameful ignorance regarding matters of ethics and morals

Through his method of powerfully questioning his students, he seeks to guide them to discover
the subject matter rather than simply telling them what they need to know. The goals of
education are to know what you can; and, even more importantly, to know what you do not
know.

Theory of Knowledge

Socrates makes the claim there are two very different sorts of knowledge. One is ordinary
knowledge. This is of very specific (and ordinary) information. (Brickhouse & Smith 1, p.118)
He claims that to have such knowledge does not give the possessor of said knowledge any
expertise or wisdom worth mentioning.

The higher knowledge could possibly be described as definitional knowledge. Socrates is

extremely interested in defining words and concepts. He accepts the pursuit of definitional
knowledge as a priority to philosophical discussion.

Socrates devotes much thought to the concept of belief, through the use of logic. He spars with
students early in his career and later with his accusers, at his trial, on the nature of his belief
regarding the gods. To define belief, according to Socrates, was to use naturalistic explanations
for phenomena traditionally explained in terms of Divine Agency.
His belief in the wisdom and goodness of gods is derived from human logic and his natural
skepticism.

Any person who knows what goodness, or truth is, will live that way. The only lie or evil comes
about when one is ignorant of good. Man will never knowingly lie even if he thinks he is. It is his
ignorance of goodness and truth that prevents him from being a wise and honest man.

Theory of Human Nature

The human being is so constituted that he "can" know the good. And, knowing it, he can follow
it, for no one who truly knows the good would deliberately choose to follow the evil. This is a
typically Greek notion, and is attractive to all rationalists. (Easton pp. 72 & 73) Only the human
being has these capabilities.

From experience, it can be known that intellectually the human potential is infinitesimal. The
mind of man is constantly reaching out for more and more knowledge, just as his will is desirous
of more and more love. The search for knowledge varies with the individual, but the race of man
has always carried on the quest in accordance with its nature and for the practical and speculative
value that knowledge brings with it.

Theory of Learning

Learning is the seeking of truth in matters, and it occurs when after questioning and
interpreting the wisdom and knowledge of others, one comes to recognize their own
ignorance. Skills and knowledge are acquired by:

(1) interpreting the statements of others;

(2) testing or examining the knowledge or wisdom of those reputed (by themselves or
others) to be wise;

(3) showing those who are not wise their ignorance;

(4 ) learning from those who are wise;

(5) examining oneself;

(6) exhorting others to philosophy;

(7) examining the lives of others;

(8) attaining moral knowledge.

 Theory of Transmission:
Socrates does not believe that any one person or any one school of thought is
authoratative or has the wisdom to teach "things." Socrates repeatedly disavows his
own knowledge and his own methods. However, this appears to be a technique for
engaging others and empowering the conversator to openly dialogue.

Be that as it may, Socrates is widely regarded as one of the great teachers of all time.
The Socratic method is one in which a teacher, by asking leading questions, guides
students to discovery. It was a dialectical method that employs critical inquiry to
undermine the plausibility of widely-held doctrine. (Brickhouse & Smith 1, p.53)

Socrates devoted himself to a free-wheeling discussion with the aristocratic young

citizens of Athens, insistently questioning their unwarranted confidence in the truth of
popular opinions, even though he often offered them no clear alternative teaching.

 Theory of Society
To the class of Athenians that Socrates was born into, society existed to provide the
best life for the individual. The Athenians of Socrates' day assumed just as their
ancestors had assumed that the best life one could have, required the acquisition of
what was called virtue, or excellence. A truly good person succeeded in doing great
things for the city, strictly obeyed its law, honored parents and ancestors,
scrupulously paid homage to the gods by strictly obeying the conventions governing
prayer and sacrifice.
Theory of Opportunity
Socrates' open and non-dogmatic style, and his emphasis on what other persons
thought rather than on his own ideas led to several individual disciplines going their
separate ways. The result was several prominent schools, with the most influential
being the Platonic philosophy. Even though Socrates rejected the "pursuit of
knowledge" per se, there are many contradictions evident to indicate that he did
view himself as an educator whose goal was to see others learn.
Theory of Consensus
Socrates' main focus throughout his public teaching life is the acquiring by the
individual of self-knowledge. He believes that goodness and truth, positive essences
and pure ethical and moral instincts are placed there divinely in the soul. However,
they are not brought to consciousness unless they are awakened or learned.
Therefore, consensus on the important things in life is just below the surface waiting
to be acknowledged. It is the destiny of mankind to seek out virtue such as courage
and self-control, or propriety over the desires of ambitions or emotions that cloud
the quest for truth.
Modern Philosophy:
- Idealized by ‘Utilitarian thinkers’ as a Christ-like martyr. (Utilitarian philosophy in
education refers to the idea that education must be for a purpose and utility.)
- Treated as ‘Paradigmatic individual’ by the German existentialist philosopher Karl
Jaspers. (Existentialism is a school of thought/philosophy which is followed by Karl
Jaspers who believed that the world is inside of the humans being. Unless the humans
don’t understand the inside of the world there is no connection with the outer world.)
- Tradition of self-reflection and care of self-initiated by Socrates fascinated Michel
Foucault. (Michel Foucault is a French philosopher; he was highly inspired by the self-
initiated and self-reflection philosophy of Socrates.)