Masha Elakovic
EDUC 92A
Prof: Tamara Bell
Summer Session II
August 14th, 2009
Name:
Ideas Part I
Ideas Part II
Ideas Part III
Organization /Structure
Voice /Originality/Style
Word Choice / Sentence Fluency
Conventions/ Grammar
4
3.5
3
4
5
3
2
Overall Grade
B+
PLATO AND THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WESTERN EDUCATION
Midterm Paper
In Western Educational structure today, there are many different methods that are
used as common practice. In order to understand the underlying values of the grand
scheme of education, the ideals and morals of Plato are highly regarded – or rather they
have been influential over time.. . in the structure today.
It is absolutely crucial to
realize that Plato has been around before more than half the religions in the world. Good
point! This fact alone proves the fact that Plato’s words show the development of culture
and civilization itself. Plato himself is one of the foundations of many theories and ideas,
including Education.
Plato’s theories rely on the factor assumption that humans are unique in the
world. In order for Human’s to function in harmony and sync with the constant changes
of the universe, we must be united. Plato argues that nature intended individuals to work
on each other. The individual themselves will feel settled in as they are taught in school,
by their guardians and teachers, the way to live in harmony with the ways that civilization
operates. In Western Culture today one might add that without the unique qualities of
every individual a society would loose variety. Plato’s ideals in “The Republic” ensures
that each person will have their own educational standards and set principles. He uses the
analogy of the wheel ( which symbolizes the interdependence between society education)
and the way it will continually perpetuate the foundations of education. “For good nurture
and education implant good constitutions, and these constitutions taking root in a good
education improve more and more...” (P.2, Plato Republic). Further in The Myth of the
Metals Plato questions the authority of the individual in creating their path and wiling or
unwilling and in his view, the society’s commonwealth should be – is necessary for the
only pursuit of happiness.
As Plato argues that skills are inherent, he suggests that people will be content
with what the individual is supposed to do. Happiness is dictated in the mastery of a
specific craft, and so humankind will manufacture their commonwealth in a perpetuating
cycle. Can you cite an example from the text that Plato gives to support this point? In
order for individuals to learn their own practice or skill, they not only inherit the skills to
do so, but their knowledge is accelerated by a moderated teacher. The issue with this
method in as articulated by modern, Western educational theorists, the modern Western
world, is that in assuming that individuals are destined for only truly having a craft, these
individuals are deprived of agency: the option to choose what one wishes. Everyone is
capable of fulfilling what the gods gave them and using those capabilities. Who is saying
this – you or Plato?: The capacities of the people are in forming the citizen with their
skills.
For Plato, true knowledge is in finding your path amongst others. Yes. The learner
is centered on their focus in pursuing and gaining intellect. Developing knowledge is
based on the desire to achieve what you are predestined to achieve. In order to find this
knowledge it is in finding out what is beyond the boundaries. In Plato’s allegory of the
cave he elaborates that people who see the light outside of the cave cannot – or at leas
have a hard time to convey what this light is, what the truth is unless one goes out and
sees the light themselves.
In questioning what a free and civil society requires, Plato argues that each
individual promises to be part of the commonwealth. [[This sentence seems to make two
very different points… might be better to break it into two sentences and define more
carefully what each claim involves Society will be composed of people who are highly
skilled and they will avoid the false ideologies]]. What is justice serves is created in the
civic community and the ability for everyone to do their part awkward phrasing. “In that
way, as the community grows into a well-ordered whole, the several classes may be
allowed such measure of happiness as their nature will compass.” (P.9 Plato Myth of the
Metals) The maintenance of freedoms in the order of society will reduce the
complications of creating your own agenda.
Furthermore Plato is an advocate for the organization of education in the manner
that people will learn what they have inherited to do. Society will only continue to
function if people are doing what they are required to do. As in the Western World to day
it what does “it’ refer to ? can be compared to the ideologies of Plato, where people will
partake in their own circumstances and do almost what their parents and teachers had preordained for them. Plato finds that the only was to create good students, lies in the way of
teaching them good from bad and objectively approaching a scholarly situation. This
form of education has almost become commercial and standard in efficiently organizing
students and children, and creating a pre-ordained society.
In understanding Plato one may argue that his epistemological and ontological
ideals would further allow for theorists to compile his works and structure their own
practices around them. In contrast to Plato’s arguments both Jean Piaget and Maria
Montessori claim the opposing side. Reflecting on the ideals of Piaget, we can conclude
the rationality in the cognitive rationality of science. Piaget enforces the activity of the
developing stages and the necessity of creating your desires in a natural environment.
Plato on the other hand enforced the structural educational lead. Good contrast
Again, Maria Montessori’s educational program stood in contrast to Platonic
ideas. contrasting to in contPlatonic ideals was Maria Montessori. Montessori not only
can be compared to Piagetian theory, but also has her own manner in developing a child.
Plato on the other hand completely desires truth to come from realization, whereas both
Montessori and Piaget would agree that the child must formulate their own decisions with
assistance and experience. In the Montessori Method, “Life makes itself manifest- life
creates, life gives-and is in its turn held within certain limits and bound by certain laws
which are insuperable.”(P.121 Montessori). This quote is an example of Montessori’s
conviction that learning follows a “natural” course of development which she argued we
should respect and understand. I am not sure this quote supports your claim that
Montessori and Piaget thought children should and do make their own decisions on a
regular basis – although I think you are right to suggest that they did assume this.
Furthermore she is an advocate of something abstract that Plato could not expect. This
natural growth of a child, perhaps similar to Rousseau, is focused on attaining knowledge
from applying yourself to a subject.
In reflecting on my own experiences on the Western Educational system I found
that we as a society couldn’t expect for things to go perfectly as planned. In order to
create a harmonious society that Plato offers, I find the luxury of choice is crucial in the
happiness of a people. You should say more about why you think “choice” may be
important for learning… and what epistemology supports the assumption that choice is
even possible… Over my 17 years of schooling in America, Serbia and Spain, the
approaches to teaching have been numerous. Overall it can be argued that Plato leads the
fundamental argument in ruling a classroom.
At the age of 7 I attended school in Belgrade, Serbia. Because I had been in an
American school system at the grade prior I was put in 1st grade again, due to the mere
fact that American/ Western Educational practices are not nearly as positively regarded as
those in Europe. Although I did not enjoy my year of school there it had taught me a
basis for learning, that under the hand of the teacher we were to learn, re-do and re-write
until our eyes were sore. It was not as brutal as I’m making it out to be, but in a former
communist country, and a socialist regime, the teachers themselves do not always have a
smile on their faces. Why this experience was so important, alludes to the fact that in a
purely Platonic schooling structure close to the regimented system in Serbia children are
introduced to their pre-ordained skill and work on that even though they have other
likings.
One of the most specific examples of success in a regimented society would be
my mother. Although she had been strict with me my whole life, she had been born and
raised in Serbia, educated in primary school and then high school already specializing in
dentistry, after the high school which was mainly focusing on biology and math she was
led to a college which she completed in 4 years becoming a dentist, allowed to legally
practice. Not to say that this is the path for everyone but it definitely efficiently does
work on the individual and creates a pre-destined personal success. Why does this sound
familiar? Because this is a clear example of myth of a metals in a contemporary world.
Not sure I follow your argument here – this seems like a noddings argument more than
anything… Plato may have lived centuries before our time, but his practice has been
around and used till this day, and on that note, successfully!
Conclusively the true fundamental practice of education roots from the Platonic
system of thinking and creating. While many may find that Plato was crude and irrational
in his ideals, To the contrary most see Plato as having been highly “Rational” so much so
that that they argue his logic left out the compassion/ humanity of all that alsot needs to
be considered when debating educational purposes. the solution is in finding a middle
ground and using Plato’s words as the underlying truth. In order to create any system
fundamentals are crucial. Plato promises not only a rational and balanced society, but
also a society of morality, happiness, and concord.