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EDU109/fall2007 Chapter 6- Philosophy of Education
1. What is a philosophy of education, and why should it be important to you?
2. How do teacher-centered philosophies of education differ from student-centered
philosophies of education?
3. What are some major philosophies of education in the United States today?
4. How are these philosophies reflected in school practices?
5. What are some of the psychological and cultural factors influencing education?
6. What were the contributions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to Western philosophy, and
how is their legacy reflected in education today?
7. How do metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and logic
factor into a philosophy of education?
Key Terms and People
The Academy
Mortimer Adler
aesthetics
Aristotle
assertive discipline
back-to-basics
William Bagley
behavior modification
behaviorism
Cartesian dualism
Coalition of Essential Schools
constructivism
core curriculum
George Counts
deductive reasoning
John Dewey
empiricism
epistemology
essentialism
ethics
ethnocentrism
existentialism
Paulo Freire
Golden Mean
Great Books
Maxine Greene
E. D. Hirsch Jr.
bell hooks
Robert Hutchins
idealism
inductive reasoning
informal education
Laboratory School
logic
Jane Roland Martin
materialism
metaphysics
A. S. Neill
neoessentialism
Nel Noddings
oral tradition
Paideia Proposal
perennialists
philosophy
Plato
political philosophy
pragmatism
praxis
progressivism
rationalism
Jean-Paul Sartre
scaffolding
B. F. Skinner
social Darwinism
social reconstructionism
Socrates
Socratic method
student-centered philosophies
teacher-centered philosophies
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Chapter Summary
Philosophy is the love of wisdom. For thousands of years, philosophers have been wrestling with
many of the same questions: What is most real: the physical world or the realm of mind and
spirit? What is the basis of human knowledge? What is the nature of the just society? These and
other philosophical questions influence education. Educators must take stances on such questions
before they can determine what and how students should be taught.
Since educators do not agree on the answers to these questions, different philosophies of
education have emerged. Although there are similarities, there are also profound differences in
the way leading educators define the purpose of education, the role of the teacher, the nature of
curriculum and assessment, and the method of instruction.
The chapter explores five major educational philosophies and describes how each one is seen in
classroom practice, and how each can be heard in yesterday’s and today’s spokespersons.
Students are encouraged to consider these fundamental philosophical questions and create a
consistent position on education and schools. This chapter also includes the foundation of
Western educational philosophy established by three ancient Greeks: Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle, as well as several non-western approaches.
Topical Chapter Outline
Finding Your Philosophy of Education
Inventory of Philosophies of Education
Interpreting Your Responses
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Five Philosophies of Education
Teacher-Centered Philosophies
Essentialism
Perennialism
Student-Centered Philosophies
Progressivism
Social Reconstructionism
Existentialism
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Psychological Influences on Education
Constructivism
Behaviorism
Cultural Influences on Education
The Three Legendary Figures of Classical Western
Philosophy
Basic Philosophical Issues and Concepts
Metaphysics and Epistemology
Ethics, Political Philosophy, and Aesthetics
Logic
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