THE PHILOSOPHY OF REALISM

By:
Ann Sheryn L. Vitug
PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
I. QUOTE
II. WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF REALISM?
III. FAMOUS PHILOSOPHERS
IV. FOUR FORMS OF REALISM
a) SCHOLASTIC REALISM
b) HUMANISTIC REALISM
c) SOCIAL REALISM
d) SENSE-REALISM
V. IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION
VI. PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 QUOTE

“Knowing one’s self is the beginning

of all wisdom.”

Aristotle
“At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.”
― Lao Tzu
 WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OF REALISM?
Dictionary:
• the doctrine that universals have a real objective
existence
• represents the theory that particular things exist
independently of our perception

Books: • Matter has its own

It is an attitude of mind, existence independently of
a mode of thinking and our mind.
an attempt to explain the
nature of things • A doctrine that the objects
(Dhiman. 2008) of our senses exist
independently of their
being known or perceived
 FAMOUS PHILOSOPHERS

Aristotle
(384-322 BCE)

• First prominent Realist philosopher

• Father of Realism
• A pupil of Plato
 ARISTOTLE

1. Design and order are present in the universe.

2. Ideas or forms such as the idea of God or idea

of a tree can exist without matter, but no
matter can exist without form.

3. Each thing has a purpose or function.

4. Humans are rational creatures fulfilling

their purpose when they think. Thinking
is their highest characteristic.
 ARISTOTLE

5. Person who follows a true purpose leads a

rational life of moderation avoiding extremes.
Golden Mean – a path between extremes

6. Chief good is happiness.

Happiness: harmony and balance of soul and
body, which is through education.
Our highest good comes through thinking.
 ARISTOTLE

7. The knowledge of a thing, beyond its classification

and description, requires an explanation of
causality (why it is) or Four Causes:
MATERIAL CAUSE -- wood, bricks, and nails
(THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH THE THING IS MADE)

FORMAL CAUSE -- the sketch or blueprint

(ITS DESIGN THAT SHAPES THE MATERIAL OBJECT)

EFFICIENT CAUSE -- the carpenter who builds it

(ITS MAKER OR BUILDER)

FINAL CAUSE -- is that it is a place in

(ITS PURPOSE OR FUNCTION)
which to live: House
 ARISTOTLE

8. Developed a method for testing the truth of

statements, which he called the syllogism.

Example: All men are mortal.

Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

*Deductive logic
 FAMOUS PHILOSOPHERS

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
 THOMAS AQUINAS

5 WAYS TO PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE

(SUMMA THEOLOGICA) :
l) The Proof from Motion - The First Mover

2)The Proof from Efficient Cause - The First Maker

3) The Proof from Contingency - The Necessary Being

4)The Proof from Degrees of Perfection - The Most

Perfect Being

5) The Proof from Design - The Designer/ Creator

 THOMAS AQUINAS

• God made it possible to acquire true

knowledge so that we may know Him better.
• Because we are children of God, our best
thinking should agree with Christian tenets.

• Each person is born with an immortal soul.

• Aquinas epitomized the scholasticism of the

Middle Ages.
• Scholasticism is an approach that emphasized
the human’s eternal soul and salvation.
 FAMOUS PHILOSOPHERS

Francis Bacon John Locke

(1561-1626) (1632-1704)
• Father of modern • Medical researcher &
• s“Kcnieonwceledgeis Power.” followed the work of
Francis Bacon
 FRANCIS BACON

• Challenged the Aristotelian logic and use of

theological methods for examining scientific
principles
• Focused on scientific—or inductive—method
uncovered errors in assumptions previously
taken for granted
• Science is a tool for creating new knowledge.
• Human knowledge is divided into 3: History,
Poetry, Philosophy
 FRANCIS BACON

• He believed we should analyze all previously

accepted knowledge and we should rid
ourselves of the four idols that we 'bow
down' before:

Idol of the Den/Cave (beliefs due to limited experience)

Idol of the Tribe (believing because most people believe)
Idol of the Marketplace (beliefs due to misuse of words)
(subjective beliefs colored by religion
Idol of the Theatre
and personal philosophy)
 JOHN LOCKE
• Ordered sense data and reflected on them
• No such things as innate ideas—mind at birth is a
tabula rasa (young mind not affected by
experience).
• As an empiricist, he believed we gain knowledge
from what we experience.
• Educational views: children should be taught
as emerging adults because they are rational
creatures.
• “A sound mind in a sound body" is a short
but full description of a happy state in this world.
 THE PHILOSOPHICAL POSITION OF REALISM HOLDS THAT:

• External world is the reality.

• Man will discover reality with the use of science
and common sense through education or
learning.
• Mind is functioning & is geared towards
creativity.
• Reality can be proved by observation,
experience, experiment and scientific
reasoning.
• Values must be studied to be applied in the
actual setting.
 ARISTOTLE (384-322 BCE) FATHER OF REALISM

FORMS OF REALISM

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (1225-1274) 1) SCHOLASTIC REALISM

A demand for truth or reality
E MIDDLEAGES
rather than beauties of
X Roman days arose
FRANÇOIS RABELAIS (1483-1553)
P
R
O
E 2) HUMANISTIC REALISM
N
A A reaction against
E
L JOHN MILTON (1608-1741) emphasis on form & style
N
I of old classical literature
T
S
S MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE (1533-1592) 3) SOCIAL REALISM
M
A reaction against
O production of scholars &
F FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) professional men & neglect
of practice

4) SENSE-REALISM
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS (1592-1670)
A reaction against realities
found in the classics or
everyday human activities
JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)
 1. SCHOLASTIC REALISM
• It started when medieval thinkers wanted to bring together a
relation between faith (Christian theology) and reason
(Classical Philosophy).
• St. Thomas Aquinas who wrote Summa Theologica used
philosophy to help explain the doctrine and mysteries of the
church.
• Characteristics: Relied on authorities from the past;
Synthesizing of knowledge; Deductive approach to reasoning;
Use of syllogistic logic
• Scholastic schools had two methods of teaching:
1."lectio" (the simple reading of a text by a teacher/ no
questions were permitted); 2. "disputatio" (where
question to be disputed was announced beforehand)
• Education is the process by which he lifts himself up to the
eternal.
 2. HUMANISTIC REALISM
• Reaction against the emphasis on form and style of the old
classical literature. Humanist realist emphasized content
and ideas.
• Aim: To acquire meaning & spirit of the classics
• Purpose: to master his own environing life, natural & social
thru knowledge of broader life of ancients
• The study of old literature (Literature of the Greeks &
Roman) is a means to understand the practical life.
• Humanists believed that classical literature should be studied
for the information and the knowledge of the facts of the pasts
so that such knowledge could be used for the preparation for
practical living (answer to any problem that man might need).
• Basic concerns in education: Physical, moral and social
development
 3. SOCIAL REALISM
• Reaction against a type of education that produces scholars
and professional men to the neglect of the man of practice
• Aim: To train a “gentleman” for active participation in
social life and social judgment and to prepare the practical
man of the world
• Social realists follow the method of travel of journey
method.
• Direct contact with things, people & social conditions thru
travel rather than books.
• Study of gymnastics, sports, riding, modern languages,
customs of other countries
• Study of one’s self but also others
• Social realism explains that education should equip learners
for a happy and successful life as a man of the world.
 4 . SENSE-REALISM
• Emphasizes the training of the senses: Senses = gateways of
knowledge; Learning takes place = operation of the senses.
• Amalgam of humanistic & social realism
• Sense-realism attached more importance to the study of
natural sciences and contemporary social life.
• Aim: To develop a natural society by working in accord
with the laws of nature
• Purpose: Happiness with God
• Thru education, man can still know laws of nature and
thereby control nature.
• 2 characteristics of representatives:
• formulation of basic assumptions
• formulation of new curriculum based on natural sciences
& contemporary life
 4 . SENSE-REALISM
The sense-realists emphasized the 3 things:
a. Application of inductive method (Bacon) in order
to organize and simplify the instructional process
b. To replace instruction in Latin by the instruction in
Vernacular
c. To substitute new scientific and social studies in
place of the studies in language and literature

As Innovators, their goal is discovery and utilization of the

secrets of nature for the real and practical benefits they could
bring to man
IMPLICATIONS OF REALISM IN EDUCATION

 AIMS

 CURRICULUM

 METHODS OF TEACHING

 TEACHER

 SCHOOL
 AIMS OF REALIST EDUCATION

• 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

 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 METHODS 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 mastery of 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.
 REALISM
Reality
A world of things
(ontology)
Truth or knowledge Correspondence and sensation (as we
(epistemology) see it)
Goodness
Laws of nature
(axiology)
Subjects of physical world:
Teaching reality doctrine
math, science, social studies
Teaching for mastery of information:
Teaching truth
demonstrate, recite
Teaching goodness Training in rules of conduct
To reveal the order of the world and
Why schools exist
universe
What should be taught Laws of physical reality
Role of the teacher Displays, imparts knowledge
Role of the student Manipulates, passive participation
School's attitude towards Always coming toward perfection,
change orderly change
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Question:
Am I a Realist?
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bauzon, Prisciliano T. Fundamental Philosophies of Education 2004. National Book
Store
Brennen, Annick M. Coursework booklet: Philosophy of Education. Northern
Caribbean University. 1999
Cordasco, Francesco. A Brief History of Education. Reprinted in USA 1987
Dhiman, O.P. Foundations of Education. APH Publishing, New Delhi. 2008

Forkner, Carl B. The Influence of Realism on Modern Education: A Historical Review.

Global Education Journal, 2013(1), Mar 2013
Garder, Jostein, Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy. New York:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007.
Hopson, Teresa. http://www.slideshare.net/writemind/realism-and-its-role-in-
education. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. 2007
’Realism', Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/realism?s=t.
“Realism’ http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page