EDUP3013:

SO P H Y & E D U C AT IO N I N
PHILO
M A LA Y S I A
TOPIC 1:
PHILOSOPHY OF EDU C A TION
CO NCE PT S OF PHILO SOPHY &
BASIC
CONTENT OUTLINE:

•BASIC CONCEPTS OF PHILOSOPHY

•PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
•IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION TO TEACHERS
 FATHER OF
PHILOSOPHY ???
PHILOSOPHY ???
“
Love of Wisdom; Friend of Wisdom

”
Ancient Greek Word - Philosophia
PHILOSOPHY
•The study of the nature, causes, or principles of
reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning.
•A certain kind of thinking or approach to a certain kind of
problem or a way of thinking about the world, the universe,
and about society. 
“ theology,
Knowledge between science and theology. Like
philosophy is concerned with unproven
ideas. Like science, philosophy employs
reasoning and logic to understand it.
”
Russell (1946)
“
A systematic reflective thinking on life.

”
Fung Yu-Lan (1966)
“ Rational and critical thinking towards
important matters.
”
E. D. Miller (1984)
 Epistemology
(Knowledge)

Branches Onthology /
Logic Metaphysic
(Reasoning) of (Existence /
Philosophy Reality)

Axiology /
Ethics
(Values)
OBJECTIVE OF EDUCATION
i. To prepare the individual to play a positive role in
society (socialisation).
ii. To help in the dispersion and continuity of
culture/norms and societal values that must be
passed down through education.
EDUCATION & PHILOSOPHY

•Education requires planning – curriculum planning,

subject content.
•The planning requires a philosophical
understanding and only then can be adopted into the
system.
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

• Different from philosophy and education.

• Can be summarised as guidelines, directions or
points of view in education.
“ Philosophy of education is a
philosophical concept used to construct
theories of education based on the
problems or issues of education.
”
Mok (2010)
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
•Your beliefs about why, what and how you teach, whom you teach,
and about the nature of learning.
•A set of principles that guides professional action through the
events and issues teachers face daily.
•Sources: Life experiences, values, the environment, interactions
with others and awareness of philosophical approaches.
YOUR EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY ???
 IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY OF
EDUCATION TO TEACHERS
• Philosophy of Education puts forth the various schools of thought about education as a discipline to
develop & inculcate knowledge, skills & ability through training in humans for welfare of the individual &
the society.

• A teacher in any social-academic institution should understand the various hypothesis put forward by the
classical & modern school of thought in order to develop the best approaches to education.

• It defines the purpose and focus of an educational institution. It becomes a part of its mission statement
which in turn defines what subjects are taught, how they are taught and, perhaps more importantly, the
values that are taught both implicitly and explicitly along with the subjects being covered.
TUTORIAL (1)
1. Why might the study of philosophy be particularly important to educators?
2. What is your opinion on education?
3. What is your opinion on teaching?
4. In your opinion, what should be taught to your students/pupils?
5. In your opinion, what are the weaknesses of our education system?