EDF 821-08/14

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES AND THEIR METAPHYSICAL UNDERPINNINGS (PART ONE)

PERENNIALISM AND ESSENTIALISM

I PERENNIALISM

A. Definition

     

 It is a subject-centered Educational Philosophy based on the metaphysics of Idealism and realism. It is however heavily biased towards Idealism

B. Idealist Metaphysical Foundation of Perrenialism

1.      Ontology: The main tenet of idealism is that ideas and knowledge are the truest reality

2.      Rational Psychology: The most important part of a person is the mind. It is to be nourished and developed.

3.      Theodicy: Envisions an immaterial perfect God whose existence is the perfect world of forms

4.      Cosmology: Physical/material world is an ever changing mirage and illusion.  Many things in the world change. Ideas never change therefore they the most real

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5.      The more things change, the more they stay the same(Permenides)

C. Realist Metaphysical Foundation of Perrenialism

I. Ontology:

1.      Realism believes in the world which we see to be real.

2.      They distinguish between ‘appearance' and ‘reality'.

3.      They believe that there is an objective reality apart from that which is presented to the consciousness

4.      Realists believe in the present life. And that the truth of life and aim of life are in the development from the present unsystematic life.

5.      Reality is already in existence and it is not an invention of the mind

6.      The individual doesn't make reality, he only discovers it

II. Rational Psychology:

1.      Holds that man is both a material being (body) and formal being (mind)-Hylemorphic being

2.      Knowledge is real and can be assimilated by the human mind through senses.

3.      Experiences are influenced by the external world which has real existence and not in the invention of man.

III. Cosmology:

1.      Realism recognizes material universe which can only be comprehended through senses.

2.      Material universe exists independently of being known, perceived by or related to the mind

3.      According o realists, the external world is a solid Reality, whether known or unknown to man.

IV. Theodicy:

1. Depending on the version of realism the question of God's existence does not arise as long he cannot be perceived by senses.

2. Naïve realism admits the existence and reality of God as different from material existence. He is divinely real and reveals himself through material reality

D. Notable Proponents: Hutchins, Adler, Maritain

E. Educational Implications

I. Aims of Education

1. The main purpose of Education is to cultivate the intellect through mastery of content and development of reasoning skills.

II. The Concept Learner

1.      Should read great books and know concepts that underline human knowledge

2.      Develop ambition to reason critically

III. The Concept of Teacher

1.      The goal of a perennialist educator is to teach students to think rationally and develop minds that can think critically.

2.      Teacher is the main actor on the stage.

III. The curriculum

1.      Curriculum is constant; Some knowledge content areas are eternally valid

2.      Perennialism values knowledge that transcends time.

3.      Some common disciplines: Arts, Philosophy, religion. Literature, Mathematics, Geometry, Music

IV. Instructional Methodology

General notes

In this philosophy skills are developed sequentially

Methods

Textual analysis: Reading, Understanding and appreciating the great works; works of literature written by history’s finest thinkers that transcend        time and never become outdated.

Lecture Method

G. Common criticisms of Idealism

1)      Exclusion of normative, creative and dialogical dimensions of Education

G. Food for thought

II. ESSENTIALISM

A. Definition

     

 Subject centered Educational Philosophy based on the metaphysics of Realism and Idealism with the postulation that there is a common core of knowledge that needs to be transmitted to students in a systematic, disciplined way . It is more inclined to Realism than it is to idealism

B. Realist Metaphysical Foundation of Perrenialism

I. Ontology:

1)      Realism believes in the world which we see to be real.

2)      They distinguish between ‘appearance' and ‘reality'.

3)      They believe that there is an objective reality apart from that which is presented to the consciousness

4)      Realists believe in the present life. And that the truth of life and aim of life are in the development from the present unsystematic life.

5)      Reality is already in existence and it is not an invention of the mind

6)      The individual doesn't make reality, he only discovers it

II. Rational Psychology:

1)      Holds that man is both a material being (body) and formal being (mind)-Hylemorphic being

2)      Knowledge is real and can be assimilated by the human mind through senses.

3)      Experiences are influenced by the external world which has real existence and not in the invention of man.

III. Cosmology:

1)      Realism recognizes material universe which can only be comprehended through senses.

2)      Material universe exists independently of being known, perceived by or related to the mind

3)      According o realists, the external world is a solid Reality, whether known or unknown to man.

IV. Theodicy:

1)      Depending on the version of realism the question of God's existence does not arise as long he cannot be perceived by senses.

2)      Naïve realism admits the existence and reality of God as different from material existence. He is divinely real and reveals himself through material reality

…………………………………………………………………………………..

6.      Change is the only permanent thing. In permanence there is change (Heraclitus )

C. Idealist Metaphysical Foundation of Perrenialism

1)      Ontology: The main tenet of idealism is that ideas and knowledge are the truest reality

2)      Rational Psychology: The most important part of a person is the mind. It is to be nourished and developed.

3)      Theodicy: Envisions an immaterial perfect God whose existence is the perfect world of forms

4)      Cosmology: Physical/material world is an ever changing mirage and illusion.  Many things in the world change. Ideas never change therefore they the most real

D. Notable Proponents:

 Plato. Aristotle, Bestor, William Bagley, James D. Koerner (1959), H. G. Rickover (1959), Paul Copperman (1978), and Theodore Sizer (1985).

E. Educational Implications

I. Aims of Education

1. The main purpose of Education is to cultivate the intellect through mastery of content and development of reasoning skills for good citizenship

II. The Concept Learner

3.      Should read great books and know concepts that underline human knowledge

4.      Develop ambition to reason critically

III. The Concept of Teacher

1)      Teach Basics core competencies of Intellect and moral soundness

2)      Teachers are to help students keep their non-productive instincts in check, such as aggression or mindlessness

III. The curriculum

1)      Content that promotes Intellectual and moral standards Content should emphasize on academic rigor and values such as hard work, respect for authority, and discipline.

IV. Instructional Methodology

General notes

1)      In this philosophy skills are developed sequentially: Subjects are focused on the historical context of the material world and culture and move sequentially to give a solid understanding of the present day

Methods

1)      Experiments

2)      Projects

3)      Lecture

 G. Common criticisms of Idealism

1)    Exclusion of Creative and Dialogical dimensions of Education

G. Food for thought