REALISM
WHAT IS REALISM?Derived from a Greek word, “Res”
which means real
WHAT IS REALISM ?REALISM IS :
• The belief in a reality that is completely
ontologically independent of our
conceptual schemes, linguistic practices,
beliefs, etc.
• A philosophy that things exist objectively.
WHAT IS REALISM ? (cont)
• A doctrine that the objects of our senses
exist independently of their being known
or perceived by mind.
• Deals with the fact that reality has an
absolute existence independent from our
thoughts, ideas and even consciousness.
“Realism is the reinforcement of our common acceptance of this world as it appears to us.” – Butler
“The doctrine of realism asserts that there is a real world of things behind and corresponding to the objects of perception.” – J.S Ross
CLASSICALREALIST
AristotleSt. Thomas Aquinas
ARISTOTLE• Aristotle (384-322 BCE)• Greek Philosopher • First prominent Realist
philosophers• Father of Realism• A pupil of Plato• A teacher of Alexander the
Great
Aristotelian Realism• Aristotle explained that each object “had its
own ‘soul’ that directs it in the right way.Statement:
A kitten is a kitten is a kitten. A kitten will grow into a cat but it will
never become a treePrinciple:
Design and order are present in the universe.
• Aristotle also explained that “A tree can exist without matter, but no matter can exist without form.”
Question: How can a tree exist without matter—how is that possible?
Answer: Before they were made, they started as an idea in someone's head and it did not exist.
Logical Explanation: A chair can exist in someone's head; you can sit
on a chair but not on an idea of a chair.
• He mentioned that each thing has a purpose or function. The most important thing we can ask about objects is about their purposes.
Question: What is the purpose of humanity?
Answer: “Because humans are the only
creatures endowed with the ability to think, their purpose is to use this ability.”
• Human’s highest characteristic is thinking. We achieve our true purpose when we think. When we refuse to think, we go against the design of the universe and the reason for our creation.
Aristotle’s Golden Mean (a path between extremes)
The person who follows a true purpose leads a rational life of moderation, avoiding extremes.
Good education helps to achieve the Golden Mean. Aristotle believed that our good comes through
thinking
• He also believed that knowledge of a thing requires an explanation of causality (why it is) or it known as Four Courses :
I. Material cause (the substance of which the thing is made);
II. Formal cause (its design);III. Efficient cause (its maker or builder); and,IV. Final cause (its purpose or function).
• Aristotle is also concerned with logic. The logical method he developed was the syllogism.
Example :
Deductive LogicAll men are
mortal.Danial is a man.
Therefore, Danial is mortal.
Inductive LogicBarney is mortal.
Sam is mortal.James is mortal. All three are men.
So, men are mortal.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS• St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)• Italian Priest• Thomism – Roman Catholic • Reconciled Aristotelian philosophy with Christian concepts• Word of God (faith) = Thinking of Aristotle• Reason and faith = Harmonious realms
• First encountered the work of Aristotle while studying in Naples.
• Became a leading authority on Aristotle in the Middle Ages
• Author of De Magistro (On the Teacher) and Summa Theologica.
• He accepted Aristotle's view that a human has matter and a mind or a body and a soul.
• He also believed that our highest good comes through thinking because we are children of God, our best thinking should agree with Christian tenets.
St. Aquinas’ Beliefs• Aquinas epitomized the scholasticism of the
Middle Ages. • Scholasticism is an approach that emphasized
the human’s eternal soul and salvation.• Only God can touch the soul because Aquinas
believed that God is the Ultimate Teacher.• A teacher can only 'point' the way to knowledge.
• Teaching is a way to serve humankind; it is part of God's work.
“Leading the student from ignorance to enlightenment is one of the greatest
services one person can give to another.”
MODERN REALISTFRANCIS BACON
&JOHN LOCKE
FRANCIS BACON• Francis Bacon (1561-
1626)• Born in London, England• Father of modern science• Originator of the expression
“Knowledge is Power.”
Francis Bacon Realism• In Novum Organum, he challenged Aristotelian
logic.• Believed science was 'delayed' by Aristotelian
thinking• Aristotelian logic was flawed, according to Bacon,
due to theological dogmatism and prior assumptions and it led to false deductions.
• Science must be concerned with inquiry and not pre-conceived notions.
• Science was a tool for creating new knowledge.• Originator of the expression: “Knowledge is Power”
Francis Bacon Realism• Focused on scientific—or inductive—
method uncovered errors in assumptions previously taken for granted.
• Induction reasoning is being used• Human knowledge is divided into 3: I. History – activity of memoryII. Poetry – activity of imaginationIII. Philosophy – activity of reason
Francis Bacon Realism• Believed we should examine all previously accepted
knowledge; • We should rid ourselves of four idols that we 'bow
down' beforeI. Idol of the Den (beliefs due to limited experience)II. Idol of the Tribe (believing because most people
believe)III. Idol of the Marketplace (beliefs due to misuse of
words)IV. Idol of the Theatre (subjective beliefs coloured by
religion and personal philosophy)
JOHN LOCKE• John Locke (1632-1704)• Medical researcher &
followed the work of Francis Bacon
• Oxford scholar; medical researcher, physician
• An empiricist • Authored Some Thoughts
Concerning Education
John Locke Realism• Locke believed that we are born with a variety of
faculties: enable us to receive and process information (the senses, memory, ability to use language etc) and to manipulate it once we have it
• But there are no such things as innate ideas: mind at birth is a tabula rasa (young minds are not affected by experience)
• As an empiricist, he believed that all ideas are acquired from sources independent of the mind, through experience.
• From educational views: children should be taught as emerging adults because they are rational creatures.
CONTEMPORARY REALISM
Alfred North WhiteheadBertrand Russell
Hilary PutnamJohn R. Searle
“The important things to be learned are ideas, but the ideas need to be connected with experiences.”
ALFRED NORTH
WHITEHEAD(1861-1947)
BERTRAND RUSSELL“He believed philosophy should be
analytical and based on science.”(1872-1970)
ALFRED WHITEHEAD & BERTRAND RUSSELL
• Both born in England• Collaborated on mathematical
writings• Eventually came to teach in the
United States• Both wrote about education• Co-authored Principia Mathematica• Bertrand Russell was a pupil of
Alfred Whitehead.
Alfred Whitehead (1861-1947)• Led to philosophy through the study of
mathematics at age 63• Tried to reconcile some aspects of
Idealism with Realism• Process is central to his philosophy—
reality is a process.• Philosophy is a search for a pattern in
the universe: (Can a fish read?)• The most important things to be learned
are ideas.• Education should be concerned with
living ideas—ideas connected to the experience of learners.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)• Student of Alfred Whitehead• Taught at Cambridge, the
University of California• Imprisoned for pacifist activities• Founded a school called
Beacon Hill• Two kinds of reality: hard data
and soft data
Hilary Putnam (1926- now)• Taught at Northwestern, MIT, and
finally Harvard• The changes in science influence the
philosophy of realism• Coined the term 'internal realism'• Physicists have introduced a 'cut'
between the observer and the universe. The universe is too large and too complex for us to understand. Forced to observe universe with our own limited resources.
• Science will continue to influence the philosophy of realism
John R. Searle (1932- now)• Accepts the traditional view of
Realism• Coined the term 'social reality'• Does reality in the universe just
consist of physical particles and fields of force?
• Social reality created by human consciousness
FORM OF REALISM
Humanistic/VerbalSocial
Sense/ScientificNeo
HUMANISTIC/VERBAL REALISM• The reaction against the emphasise on form
and style of the old classical literature• It has a great regard for the ancient literature but
it emphasizes the study of content and ideas in the ancient classical literature to understand one's present social life and environment
• The aim is not to study the form and style of old literature but to have mastery over it. The study of old literature is a means to understand the practical life.
• Humanists believed that classical literature should be studied for the information and knowledge of the facts of the pasts*
• Erasmus (1446-1537 ), Rabelais (1483-1553), John Milton (1608-1674) were the supporters of this faculty.
SOCIAL REALISM• The reaction against a type of education
that produces scholars and professional men to the neglect of the man of affairs i.e. practice.
• According to social realists, the purpose of education is to prepare the practical man of the world.*
• Education should not produce men who are unfit in social life.
• Social realism explains that education should equip learners for a happy and successful life as a man of the world.
• Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) was the main supporter of this faculty.
SENSE REALISM• The sense realism in education
emphasizes the training of the senses.• Senses are the gateways of knowledge
and learning takes place the operation of the senses.
• According to sense-realists, nature is the treasure house of all knowledge and this knowledge can be obtained through the training of the senses.
• The sense-realists emphasized the three things: Application of inductive method formulated by
Bacon in order to organize and simplify the instructional process
To replace instruction in Latin by the instruction in Vernacular
To substitute new scientific and social studies in place of the studies in language and literature
NEO REALISM• A philosophical thought• It appears the methods and results of modern
development in physics.• Bertrand Russel and Whitehead were the
supporters of this faculty.
• Neo realists: express the changeability in scientific principles
as they do not consider the principles everlasting. support the education of art with the science and
analytical system of education with the humanistic feelings.
consider living and non-living things all exist to be the organs and the development of organs is the main objective and the whole development of the objects is the main characteristic of education
FORM OF REALISM
HUMANISTIC (VERBAL)
REALISMA reaction
against emphasis on form & style of old
classical literature
SOCIAL REALISM
A reaction against
production of scholars
& professional
men & neglect of practice
SENSE (SCIENTIFIC) REALISMA reaction
that emphasizes
on the training of the senses.
NEO REALISM
A philosophical thought
REALISM AND EDUCATION
Aims (idealism vs. realism)Curriculum
Method of teachingThe teacher
School organization
AIMS
• Understanding the material world through inquiry
• A study of science and the scientific method
• A need to know the world in order to ensure survival and good life
• Basic, essential knowledge with a no-nonsense approach
• Transmit culture and develop human nature
AIMS (IDEALISM VS. REALISM)IDEALISM REALISM
1) the aim of education should be directed toward the search for true ideas.
1) To teach truth rather than beauty, to understand the present practical life
2) What they want in society is not just the literate, knowledgeable person but the good person as well
2) To provide the students with essential knowledge he will need to survive in the natural world.
3) idealists place less stress on physical and material studies than they do on studies that are nonphysical, abstract, and universal
3) Importance of material studies such as science
In general :
Realist believes that education should:• Transmit culture• Develop human nature• Provide man with basic education needed for his
survival
The Realist Curriculum• Problem-centered (subject-centered)
• Practical and useful
• Highly organized and systematic
• Physical activity has educational value (Locke)
• Extensive use of pictures (Comenius)
• Attention to the complete person (Locke)
• Use of objects in education (Maria Montessori)
• Highly organized, separate and systematically arranged (Science, Social Sciences and Mathematics)
Realist Method Of Teaching• Emphasis on critical reasoning through observation
• Supports accountability and performance-based teaching
• Scientific research and development
• Mastery of facts: Recitation, experimentation, demonstration, drills, exercises
• Education should proceed from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract.
• Enhanced learning thru direct or indirect experiences: Field trips, lectures, films, TV, audio-visual aids, computer technology & library.
• Learning is based on facts – analysis – questioning.
• Vernacular to be the medium of instruction.
• Precision and order: ringing bells, time periods, daily lesson plans, pre-packaged curriculum materials
• Children should be given positive rewards
Realism and the Teacher • A teacher should be educated and well versed with the customs
of belief and rights and duties of people, and the trends.
• He must have full masteryof the knowledge of present life.
• He must be able to expose and guide the student towards the hard realities of life. (neither pessimist, nor optimist)
• He must be able to co-relate between utility in daily life and education.
• He should define simple rules.
• He should teach subjects in proper order.
• He needs to find out the interest of the child and to teach accordingly.
School Organization Influenced by Realism• 1) School organization would be based on the real
needs of society. (not due to politics)
• 2) The opening of science classes in every school is a must.
• 3) Co-education is a natural happening so it cannot be rejected.
• 4) School is the mirror of the society. It is a miniature form of society and it presents the real picture of the society.
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