Bicol University

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Legazpi, City

Name; Jocelyn B. Vargas

Subject: Oriental and Western Philosophy
Topic: Idealism
Professor: Dr. Oscar Landagan
Day/Time: Saturday / 3:00-6:00

IDEALISM

IDEALISM IN PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

 Ideal- is a standard by which we judge things in our existence.

 Ideals- are the stars, you will not succeed in touching them with your minds, but
like the seafaring men on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides,
& following them, you will reach my destiny.

DEVELOPMENT OF IDEALISM
Platonic Idealism ( 427-347 B.C. )
Plato was a Greek Philosopher, he was remarkably equipped with natural endowments.
He came from a wealthy family, handsome, well developed physically, intelligent &
strong in the love of wisdom. Ardent admirer & disciple of Socrates until Socrates
execution in 399 B.C. He opened up his own school, the Academy in Athens, & there he
developed & expounded his doctrines as a teacher, 2 of his famous works are “The
Republic “ & “ The Dialogue “

IDEALISM

 Idealism in philosophy, applies to the theory that holds ideas as the only reality.
 Idealism believe that truth or reality exists in ideas or in the spirit or in the mind.
Material objects are merely representations of the idea.
 Idealism bases itself on the premise that ideas are important in life and that
people should focus their thoughts on ideas, which are perfect.
 Plato propounded the view that man, in his present earthly existence, is only an
imperfect copy of his original self, the perfect man, in the realm of ideas.

PERFECT MODEL

Man who is now an exile on earth has a guiding star, a model, a divine exemplar
which he must follow to reach and attain his destiny.

MAN AND KNOWLEDGE

In such a perfect state as pure mind, man knew all things by direct intuition.
Thus, according to Plato, man was omniscient, all knowing, before he came to be born
into this world. With his separation however from the paradise ofb truth and knowledge
and his long exile on earth, he forgot most of the knowledge he had.
IDEAL STATE- for Plato an ideal state is governed by a philosopher-kings. He believes
that the life of reason is the good if not the perfection of both the individual and society.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IDEAL RULER

•
can combine philosophy with practical pursuits
•
wise & temperate
•
is a lover of truth & a hater of falsehood
•
has risen above his baser nature
•
has a perspective of all things at all times in their totality
•
is fearless of life & death
•
has a social disposition free from cowardice & arrogance.
•
is quick in learning, facile in memory, harmonious in action & regulated in
mind.
HISTORY OF IDEALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

 The educational system that was established during the presence of the
Spaniards was absolutely idealist in nature.
 The students were passive learners, while the teachers kept on talking to
consummate his lessons
 In the Philippine classrooms, teacher is seen as the master of the class and the
students are the receivers of the inf

AIMS/GOALS OF EDUCATION

1. SELF REALIZATION.

 According to idealism man is the most beautiful creation of god-His

grandest work. It lays great stress on the exaltation of human personality
it is self-realization The aim of education is to develop the self of
the individuals higher till self-realizations achieved It is in fact making
actual or real the highest potentialities of the self.

2. UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.

Education according to idealism should be universal in nature. The universe is

regarded as a thought process. Education should be based on the teaching of Universal
truth from the stand-point of rationality of the Universe

3. SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.

Idealists give greater importance to spiritual values in comparison with material

attainments .According to Rusk, “Education must enable Mankind through its culture to
enter more and more fully into the spiritual realm, and also enter more and more fully
into the spiritual realm, and also enlarge the boundaries of spiritual realm”.

4.TRANSMISSION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

The aim of idealistic education is the preservation ; enrichment and transmission

of culture, Education must contribute to the development of culture .It should help in
enlarging the boundaries of spiritual realm

5. CULTIVATION OF MORAL VALUES

According to idealism, man is essentially a moral being. Therefore, moral,

intellectual and aesthetic aspects of his personality should be promoted. According to
Dr.Prem Nath “The process of education must lead to the deepest spiritual insight
and to the highest moral and spiritual insight and to the highest moral and spiritual
insight and to the highest moral and spiritual conduct .”

6. PREPARATION FOR A HOLY LIFE

Idealism prepares an individual for a holy life. Frostbelt says.”The object of

education is the realization of faithful, pure, inviolable and hence holy life.’’

7. DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE AND RATIONALITY

Idealism wishes that education should develop the mind fully. It makes a person
rational as well. Only the highly developed mind can understand the all pervading force.
The idealists believe that education must help in the full evolution of mind , the
emancipation of spirit, self realization and the realization of higher values of life and
to train the whole man completely and fully for manhood and not some part of man.

IDEALISM AND CURRICULUM

 Idealists give more importance to thoughts, feelings, ideals, and values, than to
the child and his activities.
 Preserve and advance the culture of human race, as subject like Religion, Ethics,
Philosophy, History, and Literature.
 Designed to prepare students for adult life. It can be viewed as a hierarchy in
which the summit is occupied by the most general disciplines: Philosophy and
Theology.
 The teacher is the symbol or model of good character, he/she is the masters of
all sort of knowledge, therefore, the teacher has the central role in the teaching-
learning process.
 The student is a passive receptor, who has to gain the knowledge transferred by
the teacher.

IDEALISM AND THE METHOD OF TEACHING

 Idealism is traditional philosophy of education in which the teacher has a central

role who has to be role model so that the students will adopt his model to
become good citizen,
 In idealism the lecture method is considered the most important role in which
the teacher delivers the lesson and the students will listen to them
 Teacher-centered approach- the teacher selects and discuss the topic or issue
for teaching. First the teacher teaches the topic, then asks the questions about
that topic.Students answer the questions asked..
 Another method that suits idealism is the Socratic Method. In which the teacher
involves the students in teaching activities.
 Idealists assert that to develop spiritual values in the individuals, pursuit of
highest ideals namely- truth, beauty and goodness should be encouraged more
and more.

TEACHER’S ROLE

 To interpret the law and will of God as well as the authority.

 The teacher acts as the model of cultural heritage.
 He guides the child with such genuine love, affection and sympathy that he
attains his full mental and spiritual development.
  He creates a wholesome conducive atmosphere by his own activities and
planned experiences for the child.
 The setting of the classroom is elevated platform and is found in front where the
podium is located, so that the teacher can be seen and heard by the learners.
Learners occupy their traditional seats by rows facing the instructor.
 Value Education – students should be exposed to worthy examples and models
and exemplars

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF IDEALISM TO PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS

 Students are taught to be intuitive learners because learning does not stop, for
the search of the truth is part of their lives
 The students in an idealistic set-up are expected to be truth seekers as they
study the subjects that bring out critical thinking.
 School is a place where the capacities of logical thinking, reasoning and
evaluating of the child are progressively sublimated and developed.
 The idealistic curriculum Idealists give more importance to thoughts, feelings,
ideals and values than to the child and his activities.
 To preserve and advance the culture of human race.
 Designed to prepare students for adult life.
 Cultivates the basic skills of literacy, numeracy, and civility that prepare a person
for more advanced learning
 Idealism prepares an individual for a holy life.

As an idealist, we should takes every personal event as an opportunity to self

improvement. He has no idea where this will lead, but he knows he's on his way. His life
is leading him where he wants or needs to go. He's not upset by the uncertainty nor
impatient. He's on his way, wherever that leads.