ALLAM IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

ROLL # BU601525 COURSE CODE: 8609

STUDENT NAME: MUHAMMAD SHAFQAT

________________________________________________________

Q:1 Discuss in details classical and modern philosophies in relation to

education.

Classical and modern philosophies in relation to education are as follow:

Idealism:
Idealism has influenced every field of education. Idealism believes human personality to be
the most important; it wants education to aim at development of human personality culminating
in self-realization. In words of Home, "The end of ends, the goal of goals, according to Idealism,
is the increasing realization of the Absolute Idea for the individual, society and race". Further
explaining the aim of education, Rusk has commented, "We may accept that the aim of education
is the enhancement of personality, the differentiating feature of which is the embodiment of
universal values”. Thus the idealists cherish the following aims of education:
1. Development of the personality
2. Self-realization
3. Development of the will power
4. Synthesis of the man and nature
5. Cultural Development
6. Exploration of the Universal Values

Realism:
In the sphere of education, realism has made its appearance as the revolt against theoretical
and verbal education.The realistic aim of the education is a happy and integrated life.The child
should be provided with the complete knowledge of society. He should know the social
circumstances, social organization and the natural environment. Learning is an art of leading
practical life. This requires the scientific attitude. Scientific attitude is a rational attitude. It is
very objective and sensuous. The aim of the education is to enable the child to acquire
knowledge of definite and real objects and to analyze it through reason. Thus the realism
cherishes the following aims of education:
1. Activities concerned with the language
2. Activities concerned with the hygiene
3. Citizenship activities
 4. Ordinary social activities
5. Leisure activities
6. Activities of the mental health
7. Religious activities

Naturalism:
According to the naturalism, the natural laws are universal and necessary.Like other systems
of philosophy of the education, naturalism has also made important contribution to education.
Concerning the aims of education, naturalists adopt a biological and evolutionist attitude. Even
among the different forms of naturalism one finds a variation in the objectives assigned to
education. Mechanical naturalism suggests that education should aim at the efficiency and
perfection of the human machine. Thus the naturalismcherishes the following aims of education:
1. Paid centric education
2. Emphasis upon the psychology
3. Emphasis upon the free choice
4. Place of teacher
5. Direct experience of the things
6. Direct experience of the social life
7. Self-government
8. Play the way of education
9. Development of the child psychology
10. Support of the residential schools

Pragmatism:
On the basis of the philosophy, pragmatists refuted the doctrines of other thinkers in the sphere
of the education and presented their own novel propositions.The various characteristics of the
pragmatic concept of the education clearly indicate the aims of education as conceived of by
pragmatists. Pragmatism favors frequent experimentation in the field of education in order to
determine more modern ideals which accord with the present-day social life. Educational aims,
no matter how well authenticated by the past are not to be projected indefinitely into future. In a
world rendered precarious and contingent by a compound of the novel and the customary,
educational aims must be held subject to revision as one advance into future. The pragmatists
accept growth or development as the aim of education.
The educational aim must possess the following three elements in order to be a good and proper
aim:
1. Such aims are based on the actions and needs of the student
2. They elicit the co-operation of educators
3. They are specific and temporary, and not permanent and general

Existentialism:
 Existentialism is a philosophy that concerned with finding self and the meaning of life
through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The aim of the education, according to
existentialism, is the realization of inner truth. In Contemporary mechanical and industrial life
has alienated modern man. He is full of anxieties, frustrations, and fears and of guilt. He is lonely
one though in the crowd. His individuality is being corrupt. The education should make him
realize his subjective consciousness. The existential aim of the education is humanitarian and
humanist. It aims at the self-realizations. It provides the knowledge of self- existence.
Q:2 Compare the perspective of Greek and Western philosophers on
education.

Comparison between Greek and western education philosophies:

It could not be denied that different places have their own different culture and background of
the societies. So here we will compare some important perspective of Greek and western
philosopher on education.

Aims of Education:
According to Greek education the educator should take advantage of this propensity in
the child and educate him. He should pay attention on the objects which surround the child. Such
objects should be beautiful so that the child is naturally attracted to them and his curiosity
increased. The process of education advances through the stimulus by which the mind develops.
For this reason the child should be kept in a beautiful environment. According to Plato, the
process of education is never complete. It continues throughout one's life. Plato has laid the
greatest stress on the mental development in education. Education aims not merely at providing
information but on training the individual in his duties and rights as a citizen.The aim of
education is human perfection, and with this end in view, he suggests a curriculum which
comprehends all subjects
According to Western education the aim of education is the development of child's
powers and abilities. It is impossible to lay down any definite principle for a particular kind of
development, because this development will differ from one child to the next. The educator
should guide the child according to their abilities and powers. The aim of the education is to
create an atmosphere in which the child gets an opportunity to be active in and contribute to the
social awakening. From the pragmatic standpoint, education aims at creating social efficiency in
the child. Man is a social being who must develop within the confines of society. For this reason,
education must aim at creating social efficiency and skill.

Curriculum of Education:
Plato, a Greek philosopher believes that development of the mind, body and soul is
essential. For this reason, he divided the curriculum into three parts:
1. Bodily Development:
Plato's philosophy believes that development is achieved not merely through exercise and
gymnastic activity, but also through a regulated and controlled diet. The educator must guide
and train the students to attend to his food.
2. Educational Impressions:
Plato recommended the teaching of mathematics as of supreme importance. Geometry and
algebra shouldbe taught. In addition to mathematics, the teaching of astronomy is of great
significance, as part of higher education.
3. Training in Music:
Exercise is the source of bodily development while music helps in the development of the soul.
Plato suggested that the child's curriculum should be purged of all literature and musical epics
which tended to generate such qualities as cowardice, weakness, etc.
In western philosophy of education the educational process has two aspects.
1. Psychological:
The curriculum and the method of education should be determined by the child's instincts and
abilities. The child should be educated according to his interest and inclination
2. Social:
In education it is necessary to create an atmosphere in the school which will allow the child to
take an active part in the social awakening of his group. This improves his conduct and develops
his personality and abilities.

Role of Educator:
In Greek philosophy of education, the educator is considered to have the greatest
importance. His task is to bring the educand out of the darkness of the cave into the light of the
day. He is thus the guide. In his methods of teaching imitation is of the greatest importance, for
that the child learns a great deal through imitation. He will acquire the behaviour of the people
among whom he is making to live. Hence, keeping in mind the status of the child, he should be
made to live among people from whom he can learn good habits and avoid bad ones.
In western education the task of educator is to create in the school an environment which
will help in the development of the child's social personality and enable the child to become a
responsible democratic citizen. In order to realize the values of equality and independence in the
school, the educator should not treat himself as superior to children. He must also consciously
abstain from imposing his own ideas, interests, and tendencies on the children. He must confine
his own activity to an observation of the child's own natural inclinations and personality traits.It
is essential for the educator to pay constant attention to the individual differences of the children.
If this is done, administration of the school becomes easier.
Q:3The impact of Imam Ghazali and Ibn-e-Khaldun is still visible in our
present-day education system. Discuss it with real life examples.

Imam Ghazali:
Al-Ghazali's philosophy of education is based upon the Islamic perspective on education,
in which Al-Ghazali's predisposition towards the understanding and integration of numerous
intellectual schools is apparent. He got recognition as mystical, legal and philosophical
educational thinker.
For Al-Ghazali, the aim of education is to nurturehuman beings so that they abide by the
teachings of religion and henceforward will be rewarded in the life hereafter. Children learn from
the society and the surrounding environment. These elements play important role for the
development of their behaviors and personality. The children are also under the influence of their
families, customs, traditions, language and religious traditions. Therefore, the major
responsibility for children's education rests on parents. This responsibility is subsequently shared
by the teachers. Al-Ghazali emphasized on the significance of childhood in character building. A
good brought up will result in a good character and help them to live a good life; while, a bad
brought up will spoil the character of children and it will be difficult to bring them back.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand the significant characteristics of this period so that the
children can be dealt in a sound and effective manner.
Al-Ghazali emphasized on early childhood education. He stressed that the parents should
observe their children’s education since birth. According to Al-Ghazali, children are the
responsibilities of their parents.
Al-Ghazali divides the philosophical sciences into six categories:
i. logic
ii. Mathematics
iii. Natural sciences
iv. Politics
v. Metaphysics
vi. Ethics
All of these traits and division of sciences have impact in present-day education.Al-Ghazali
stresses that the learning is only effective when it is put into practice.AlGhazali recommended
that the teacher before moving to next subject matter must ensure that the students have mastered
the first subject matter. Teacher should consider the interconnectedness of knowledge and
relations between its various branches. For religious education, Al-Ghazali recommended an
early introduction to fundamentals of religion through memorization, inculcation, and repetition.
In the subsequent stage, understanding, explanation, and conscious practice must be carried out.
Ibn-e-Khaldun
Ibne Khaldun was a philosopher of history and first social scientist. Ibn e Khaldunhas made three
most important contributions to social sciences.
Ibne Khaldun described the educational process in the perspective of thedevelopment of society.
He illustrated his theory of education in the framework of the Islamic society and focused his
attention on the education from a religious and ethical point of view but at the same time he also
highlighted the sociological point of view. The Muqaddima contains a systematic treatment of
the philosophy of history. Besides this it contains his views on aspects of state, society and
education.
According to Ibne Khuldun, thinking ability is a human beings’ special gift of God. The faculty
of the reflective thinking is the source of knowledge. It distinguishes man from animals. It is of
three types:
i. Discerning intelligence:
It enables man to understand the order of things
ii. Experimental intelligence:
It enables man to be receptive to opinions and teaches him rules of conduct
iii. Speculative intelligence:
It gives insight about general idea of things existing according to the species, classes
andtheir primary and secondary causes.
Khaldun classifiededucation and children’s upbringing into three different types.
i. Psychological information:
It provides the bases for education and learning theories
ii. Historical information:
It explains means of education and bringing up children in different countries
iii. Practical instructions:
These identified the rules that parents and teachers should follow.
Ibne Khaldun stressed upon the UlumNaqliyyai-e The Quran, interpretations of Quran, tradition,
jurisprudence and speculative theology.
Ibne Khaldun described that the learning time should not be too long because it would make
children forget. Teaching within a short time by using the right method could generate better
learning. In terms of language, he stated that the language is the foundation of all knowledge.
Language teaching started from the writing and reading, and then words are related to
meanings.Ibn-e-Khaldun’s all philosophy has a great impact on present-day education.