Philosophy of Education

The word philosophy is derived from two Greek words. The first word, philo, means “love.” The second, sophy, means “wisdom.”
Literally, then, philosophy means “love of wisdom” (Power, 1982). Each individual has an attitude toward life, children, politics, learning, and
previous personal experiences that informs and shapes their set of beliefs. Although you may not be conscious of it, this set of beliefs, or
personal philosophy, informs how you live, work, and interact with others. What you believe is directly reflected in both your teaching and
learning processes.

The four main branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and logic.

Metaphysics questions about the physical universe and the nature of ultimate reality.
Epistemology examines how people come to learn what they know.
Axiology study of fundamental principles or values.
Logic pursues the organization of the reasoning process.
deductive reasoning takes general principles and relates them to a specific case

inductive reasoning builds up an argument based on specific examples.

The major schools of thought in philosophy

Idealism 1. classical. : the philosophy of the Greeks Socrates and Plato, searches for an absolute truth
2. religious : to reconcile God and humanity
3. modern : stemming from the ideas of Descartes, links perception and existence.

Realism  believes that the world of matter is separate from human perceptions
 Modern realist thought has led to the “blank slate” notion of human capabilities.
 Pragmatism believes that we should select the ideas, actions, and consequences with the most desirable
outcome, as well as learning from previous experiences to achieve desirable consequences.
 John Dewey’s Experimentalism brought the scientific method of inductive reasoning to the educational
sphere.
Postmodernism and  focus on intricate readings of texts and social and political conventions, examining existing structures
existentialism for flaws.
The major philosophies of education

Philosophies
of education

teacher- student- society-

centered centered centered
philosophies philosophies philosophies

Constructivism Reconstruction
Essentialism Perennialism Progressivism Humanism Behaviorism
ism

fostering each the

teaching of focuses on the developing the using
student to his perspective
basic skills that teaching of student’s education to focuses on
or her fullest that education
have been great works. moral compass shape a cultivating
potential is the means to
proven over student’s world behaviors that
time to be view. solve social are beneficial to
needed in problems society.
society
Malaysia National Education Philosophy (NEP)

Educational philosophies that guide all educational activities in Malaysia know as National Education Philosophy.

"Education in Malaysia is an ongoing effort towards further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated approach to
create stable and harmonious intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are
knowledgeable, honorable, responsible , competent and capable of achieving well-being and contribute to the betterment of family, community
and country. "

 National Philosophy of Education (NPE) is founded in 1988 based on policy documents and ideologies such as Cabinet
Report in 1979, rational and critical thinking, National Principle, Malaysian Society and cultures. NPE outlines the principles,
ideas, terms, education practices, policies and goals of education. Besides that it is also serve as guidance, course of direction,
or rational opinion on mater related to education.
 The content formed in NPE contains various factors such as social, international, individual, economical, political and
religious factors.
o The social factors can be seen through the sentence which present in NPE "... to produce Malaysian citizen that are
capable of achieving a high level of personal well being to contribute to the betterment of the nation, family and
society." since Malaysia is a country which has various races such as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazandusun and others;
thus, in order to have a peace harmony and stable society or nation, education play an important role of moulding
tolerance, cooperation and mutual respect among each citizens.
o Individual factor is mentioned in the sentence from NPE which stated that "Holistic Development by integrating all
potential of individual in such a manner that produce balanced and harmonious citizens" which means that the nation
hope by education, positive attitude can be developed within the individual, and produce an individual who enjoy
spiritual peacefulness and ready to face challenges. NPE uphold the aspiration of a nation. Thus as a teacher, he/she
should study the aims of NPE carefully and interpret them as to produce a better quality generations.