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Philosophy
Philosophy
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Philosophy is:
A search for meaning and truth
The general beliefs and attitudes of an individual or group The body of principles underlying a branch of learning or major discipline
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Original Definition
Love of Wisdom Definition was developed by Socrates
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Metaphysics
Concerned with theories of the nature of reality.
Why does the earth exist? How did it come into being? Is mankind free? Is there a God? What is real?
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Metaphysics
Common terms used in metaphysics are:
theology creationism evolution spirit free will atheism
Metaphysics is the area many people think of when they hear the term philosophy.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Axiology
concerned with theories of value Two major divisions of axiology
ethics
What is right and wrong? What is evil and good?
aesthetics
What is beautiful and ugly?
Some common terms used that relate to axiology are pessimism, optimism, hedonism, egoism, and altruism.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Epistemology
Concerned with theories of the nature of knowledge Epistemological questions:
How do people learn? What knowledge is of utmost value? What are the different types of knowledge? What are the educational goals of agricultural education and extension?
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Idealism
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Idealism (Idea-ism)
Idealist believe that ideas are the only true reality. The material world is characterized by change, instability, and uncertainty; some ideas are enduring
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Idealism
We should be concerned primarily with the search for truth. Since truth is perfect and eternal, it cannot be found in the world of matter that is both imperfect and constantly changing.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Methods of Idealism
Study the classics for universal truths Mathematics (2+2=4 is an absolute truth) Dialectic (critical discussion)
The dialectic looks at both sides of an issue
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
The Dialectic
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leaders of Idealism
Socrates (469-399 BC) Plato (427-347 BC) St. Augustine (350-4300 Descartes (1596-1650) Berkeley (1685-1753) Kant (1724-1804)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Socrates
Regarded as the father of philosophy Believed we learned through questioning (the Socratic method) Wrote nothing, what we know of his views were written by his followers, most notably Plato
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Plato
A student of Socrates Known as the father of idealism Operated a school named the Academy
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Plato
Those who demonstrate proficiency in the dialectic would continue their education and become philosophers in positions of power to lead the state toward the highest good (the Philosopher-King) Believed both boys and girls should be educated and girls should be equals.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Augustine (354-430)
Born in North Africa (Roman citizen)
Mother - Christian, Father - Pagan
Augustine. . .
Became a grammaticus in his native town Taught rhetoric in Carthage, Rome, Milan While in his 30s was converted to Christianity, took his holy orders and became a great evangelist and priest. Found great favor in the church and became a great religious leader.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Augustine
People do not create knowledge; God has already created it, but people can discover it through trying to find God.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Augustines Beliefs
Women were held in low regard (this view was incorporated into the church and held for a thousand years) Only a few people possessed the mental ability to quest for the truth. Therefore most people should rely on the church for knowledge.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Augustines Beliefs
Augustine used Greek writings but began to have doubts how people who did not know God could write anything which could be of value to Christians. In 401 the Church outlawed pagan writings such as Plato and Aristotle (even the church leaders were not allowed to read the ancient literature). This continued for 1000 years.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Descartes (1596-1650)
A renown mathematician Wrestled with the question of what was real and did he really exist (perhaps he was a dream). He finally concluded:
I think, therefore I am
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Realism
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Realism
Reality, knowledge and value exist independent of the human mind. Trees, sticks and stones exist whether or not there is a human mind to perceive them.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Realism
Ideas must be subject to public verification
must be proven through scientific experimentation
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Realism
Universal properties of objects remain constant and never change, whereas particular components do change
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Realism
Need to study nature systematically Deductive reasoning - truth is derived from generalizations
Earth is the center of the universe
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leaders of Realism
Aristotle (384-322 BC) Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Francis Bacon (1561-1626) John Locke (1632-1704)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Aquinas (1225-1274)
God created matter; therefore it must be ok to learn about it This view helped lead civilization out of the dark ages, replaced the influence of Augustine
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Aquinas
Truth was passed from God to Humans by divine revelation, but God also has endowed humans with the reasoning ability to seek out truth.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Bacon (1561-1626)
Novum Organum - challenged Aristotelian logic Science must be concerned with inquiry, pure and simple with no preconceived notions We need to examine all previously accepted knowledge
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Bacon (1561-1626)
Need to rid our mind of idols
Idol of the Den - we believe things because of limited experience Idol of the Tribe - we believe things because many people believe them Idol of the Marketplace - we are mislead by language Idol of the Theatre - Religion and philosophy may prevent us from see the world objectively
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Died as a result of the only experiment he performed - stuffed a dead chicken with snow to see if it would preserve the flesh, caught a cold and died
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Pragmatism
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Pragmatism
The root of the word Pragmatism is a Greek word meaning work. It is primarily a 20th century philosophy developed by Americans. Truth is what works in the real world. We must keep the desired end in mind. Ideas should be applied to solving problems; including social problems.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leaders in Pragmatism
Auguste Comte, 1798-1857
Not a pragmatist but emphasized using science to solve social problems
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Leaders in Pragmatism
Charles Darwin, 1809-1882
Reality is not found in Being, but in Becoming Reality is open-ended, in process, with no fixed end.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
American Pragmatists
Charles Sanders Peirce, 1839-1914 Widely acknowledged as the father of pragmatism Wrote an article on How to make our Ideas Clear in Popular Science Monthly that is regarded as the basis for pragmatism. True knowledge of anything depends upon verfication of our ideas in actual experience
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
American Pragmatists
William James, 1842-1910
The truth of an idea is its workability Truth is not absolute and immutable; rather it is made in actual, real-life James called his philosophy radical empericism Jamess 1907 book Pragmatism did much to promote pragmatism. Rufus Stimson, a leader in agricultural education, studied under James.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
American Pragmatists
John Dewey, 1859-1952
Need to concentrate on real-life problems Sought practical solutions for practical problems How We Think
Felt Difficulty Define the problem Formulate possible solutions Examine & Evaluate possible solutions Accept or reject solutions
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Reconstructionism
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Reconstructionism
Society is in need of constant reconstruction Such social change involves both a reconstruction of education and the use of education in reconstructing society Problems are viewed holistically Futuristic thinking (utopian thinking)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Reconstructionism
Do not believe preparing students for the world as it exists today will be sufficient (too much emphasis on the status quo)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Reconstructionism
The goal of education should be to emphasize the need for change Students should be out in the real world World curriculum Technology is valuable in solving problems
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Noted Reconstructionists
George S. Counts Theodore Brameld Paole Freire Karl Marx Ivan Illich John Dewey (he is also recognized as a pragmatist)
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Existentialism
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Existentialism
Received new emphasis in the 60s and 70s
Civil rights Women rights Individual rights Special needs
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Existentialism
In education
curriculum was revamped to meet the needs (more accurately - demands) of individuals mainstreaming Pass or fail grade policies extended drop deadlines in college elimination of core courses decline of corporal punishment
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Existentialism
In extension there was a focus on serving non-traditional clientele Focus shifted toward the urban environment
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Existentialism
Traditional philosophies - consider questions about the nature of knowledge, truth and meaning but:
Existentialists are concerned with how these things are educationally significant within the lived experiences of individuals.
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Noted Existentialists
Soren Kierkegaard Martin Heidigger Martin Buber Jean-Paul Sartre
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education
Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education Foundations of Agricultural and Extension Education