REALISM

DEFINITION OF REALISM

Realism may be defined as any philosophical position that asserts the objective existence of the world and begins in it and relations between these beings of human knowledge and desires.

Realism holds that reality, knowledge and value exist independent of the human mind. For the realist, matter is real.

The most important part of realism is the thesis of independence. Sticks, stones, trees exist whether or not there is a human mind to perceive them.

REALITY

DEFINITION OF REALITY

Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible.

NATURE OF REALITY

Reality is Objective

In the history of Philosophy, there are two quite distinct traditions about the nature of the relationship between what we think we perceive and what is real. They are the Idealist, or the "Inside-Out" tradition and the Realist or "Outside-In" tradition.

The "Inside-Out" tradition is best exemplified by the famous quote from Rene Descartes - "Cogito, ergo sum!" - "I think, therefore I am!"   Philosophers of this tradition start with the incontestable premise that "I think", and deduce from that the inescapable conclusion that consciousness is the fundamental given of metaphysics. Their argument is that to deny the premise "I think", or that "I am conscious" is a logical contradiction.

The Outside-In tradition is best exemplified by Aristotle. Philosophers of this tradition start with the incontestable premise that thinking and consciousness are processes not things. By the very nature of what a process is, in order for a process to "exist" be in the process of

processing) there must be something that is being processed. To think is to think about something. To be conscious is to be conscious of something. Philosophers of this tradition start with this premise and acknowledge that by the nature of processes there must first be something about which I can think or of which I can be conscious, and deduce the inescapable conclusion that the existence of something that I might be conscious of or think about is the fundamental given of metaphysics.

REALITY IS CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT

Reality" has to be such that we can repeat our sensory perceptions of it, as long as we are careful to repeat the conditions under which we are making our sensory perceptions. This means assuming, as a starting point, that "Reality" behaves in a predictably repeatable fashion, regardless of what our perceptions may superficially tell us. If we repeat our observing situation, we can accurately predict our sensory perceptions.

Reality" cannot possess attributes that are mutually contradictory. For example, "Reality" cannot not be both black and white simultaneously, regardless of what our sensory perceptions may tell us. This means that, regardless of our perceptions, our understanding about the nature of "Reality" must be based on an explanation (model, theory that is also self-consistent.

TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE

DEFINITION OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE

TRUTHConsistent with fact or reality. This implies that something which is true always has been true, and always will be true.Things by themselves are neither true nor false; they just are or are not.

KNOWLEDGE

The term “epistemology” comes from the Greek “episteme,” meaning “knowledge,” and “logos,” meaning, roughly, “study, or science, of.”

Knowledge is a concept every human mind holds. 

NATURE OF TRUTH

First, there is the correspondence theory, which states that truth is the agreement between a statement of fact and an actual state of affairs, or between a judgment and the situation the judgment claims to describe.

Second, is the coherence theory, which states that a judgment is true if it coheres or is consistent with other judgments that are accepted as true. Thus, true judgments are those that are logically coherent with other relevant judgments.

Finally, there is the pragmatic or utility theory which states that truth is what works out in practice, what leads to satisfactory results.

NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is a mental state; that is, knowledge exists in one’s mind, and unthinking things cannot know anythingKnowledge requires belief

Knowledge is innate

Knowledge is gained through evidence and experiences

MAN

Definition of Man

According to science, man is an animal with a species of homosapiens

According to the Bible, man is a living soul

NATURE OF MANMAN’S NATURE IS ESSENTIALLY EVIL.

This view gets support from the teachings of Christianity, particularly in the doctrine of sin as originated by St. Augustine. According to this doctrine of very first man and woman, Adam and Eve, have sinned. Due to their sinfulness, every individual is corrupt or evil because he inherited the sinfulness of his ancestors.

The economists regard man as essentially selfish since his behavior is determined largely by the desire to gain profit and to accumulate wealth for himself.

The biologists tend to emphasize biological heritage of man: He “inherits a great array of fixed instincts acquired in the struggle for existence; hence he must be expected to exhibit all the animal tendencies.”

MAN’S NATURE IS GOOD.

Rousseau believes that man is born good. It is man’s exposure to civilization, with all its attendant corruption and vice, which made him what he is-selfish, arrogant, untrustworthy and belligerent.

Herbert Spencer said that the course of evolution is a change for the better. Man should therefore stand aside and let nature take its course, for gradually and eventually it will bring about full development of all man’s capacities as well as harmonious adjustment of man to his environment.

MAN’S NATURE IS NEUTRAL.

Unlike the lower animals, man has flexible tendencies and has the capacity to learn. Whatever becomes of him-good or evil- is the result of the influences of this total environment and the workings of his mind. This view is of the sociologist, psychologists and educators.

MAN IS A RATIONAL OR INTELLECTUAL BEING.

Plato and Aristotle believed that man is an animal who knows, feels, acts and makes new things.

MAN IS A SOCIAL OR RELATIONAL BEING.

As a social being, man’s life is intimately interwoven with that of his fellowmen. (Titus and Smith, Bierman)

Man is a relational being in that he is related not only to other human beings but also to other living things, to nonliving ones, events and to a Supreme Being.

Man is also related to the past and to history. Whatever he is now, personally and socially, is the result of the thinking, ways and achievements of the past generation.

VALUES AND

MORALITY

Definition of Values and Morality

Values are the priorities of individual and society attached to certain beliefs, experiences, and objects in deciding how they shall live and what they shall treasure (Hill, 2004)

Principles and fundamental convictions which act as general guides to behavior, the standard to which particular actions are judged as good and desirable ( Halstead, Taylor and Taylor, 2000)

Values are cherished ideals. Values are spiritual and moral (ethical) standards acceptable to a group. It should be noted that whenever we speak values, the concept of right and wrong is always present

Morality (from the Latin moralitas "manner, character, proper behavior") is the differentiation of intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are "good" (or right) and those that are "bad" (or wrong)

NATURE OF VALUESSpiritual Values Human Value

SIMILARITIES

Spiritual values always occur in paired opposites like loving-not loving.

Human values always occur in paired opposites like honesty-dishonesty.

Spiritual values are essences or qualities, and hence abstract. Humility and meekness are example, they are abstract.

Human values are essences or qualities, and hence abstract. Honesty and truthfulness are examples. They are abstract.

DIFFERENCES

Spiritual values are God given.

Human values are evolved by men.

Spiritual values are eternal. They do not change and they remain till the end of time.

Human values change over time and sometimes disappear altogether.

Spiritual values are universal, applied to all people.

Human values are localized. A value in one locality may not be a value in another. Kissing the hands of elders is not practiced in Japan.

Violation of a spiritual value is always punished by God.

Not practicing a human value is not always punishable. Kissing the hands of elders is a value but one who does not merits no punishment.

Spiritual values are absolute. Stealing one hundred pesos is as serious as stealing one million pesos.

Human values are relative. Stealing one million is more serious than stealing a hundred pesos.

Spiritual values are objective. A spiritual value is equally important to all.

Human values are subjective. A human value may be important to some but it may not be important to others.

NATURE OF MORALITY

Morality is subjective- Right and wrong is determined by what you -- the subject -- just happens to think (or 'feel') is right or wrong.

Morality is relative- Right and wrong is determined by the particular set of principles or rules the relevant culture just happens to hold at the time.

Morality is egoism- Right and wrong is determined by what is in your self-interest. Or, it is immoral to act contrary to your self-interest.

Morality is based on values- Right and wrong is characterized in terms of acting in accordance with the traditional virtues -- making the good person.

Morality is based in goodness. Utilitarianism Right and wrong is determined by the overall goodness (utility) of the consequences of action.Morality is based in reason. (Kantian Theory) Right and wrong is determined by rationality, giving universal duties.

THE REALIST PHILOSOPHY OF

EDUCATION: BASIC CONCEPTS OF

REALISM

Theme: The Principle of Independence

AIMThe aim of realist education is to provide the students with the essential knowledge that he will need to survive in the natural world.A study of science and scientific method

The aim of education should be to teach truth rather than beauty, to understand the present practical life.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum is called the subject-matter approach, which is composed of two basic components, the body of knowledge, and the appropriate pedagogy to fit the readiness of the learner. The liberal arts curriculum and the math science disciplines consist of a number of related concepts that constitute the structure of the discipline.

Implication to Social Sciences Education

The universal elements in man make up the elements in the education of man. Education implies teaching, teaching implies knowledge, knowledge is truth, and truth is the same everywhere. Thus, education should be the same everywhere.

Realist are concerned with the necessity of student measuring up to the standard curriculum or external criteria of excellence.

They believe that the “superior” students should be given the arts and sciences while the “slower” students should be given a narrow technical-vocational training.

Realism favors a fact-based approach to knowledge. This had led to the tradition and problem of “testing” including the IQ as a passport to a college education, the teachers’ heads should be filled with “factual truth” so that they o not come to a “bad end”.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF

REALIST EDUCATION

STRENGTHS Theory and principle comes first in

the learning experience; application or practice follows

Give priority to young people in developing their thinking abilities

Teaching is interactive and subject matter relates to student’s experience

Students should be given positive reward

Weaknesses• Classrooms would be highly ordered

and discipline, like nature and the students would be a passive participants in the study of things.

Intellectually gifted students is a precious resource (Danger of Elitism)

Should use the great books of the Western World.

School’s task is primarily an intellectual one.

No place to imagination ,pure thoughts  and sentiments.

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