Thales, the first known teacher, and philosopher founded the first school of philosophy. Philosophy was the first concept through which people were taught about reality and how to lead their lives.
The primary purpose of education was to teach people how to live for the future. Over time, knowledge and philosophy evolved and separated into many disciplines. With the advent of modernism, we are fortunate to have access to the facilities that make life easier, such as the ability to love, pray, and explore the world. However, it is important to consider where these facilities originated.
Education is simply the awareness of ideas and materials.
Theology, Psychology, Science, Technology, Sociology, Epistemology, Astrology, Astronomy, and so on all originated from it.
Further, it is divided into many branches, one of them being the philosophy of education. The philosophy of education, or educational philosophy, is a branch of applied philosophy in which the core nature of education is discussed. It gives clarification to educators on how knowledge, norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors are applied to shape the learner in better understanding.
The philosophy of education analyzes the overall issues of education and helps to solve educational problems. It also provides philosophical laws to give worth to knowledge, and a worthy method of teaching to promote holistic development in the learner.
In this article, the difference and relationship between philosophy and education will be discussed, and the contribution of philosophy to education will be focused on briefly.
Difference between education and philosophy
The word “philosophy” comes from two Greek words: “Philo” and “Sophia”. “Philo” refers to love, while “Sophia” means knowledge or wisdom. This means that philosophy is the love of wisdom or knowledge.
Philosophy always has two fundamental questions to gain wisdom: “What is it?” and “Why is it?”. The first focus of philosophy is to understand the creation of the absolute, the one through which or by whom the universe was created.
The word “education” has been taken from three different words. The first is “educare”, which means to train or mold.
The second is “educate”, meaning to lead out, and the third is “educatum”, which means to “grow up”.”By focusing on these roots, we may perceive that education is the action and application of knowledge. [S.S. Mackenzi] ‘Education is a process in which and by which the knowledge, character, and behavior of the young are shaped and molded.’
In simpler terms, education is the practice of changing what needs to be changed, whether it be behavior, knowledge, natural phenomena, mind, or attitude. Thus, philosophy knows the knowledge and education applies that knowledge.
Relationship between philosophy and education
The relationship between philosophy and education is one of interdependence.”As Ross said, “Philosophy and education are two sides of the same coin; one implies the other.
The former is the contemplative side of life, while the latter is the active side.” It would be impossible for one to exist without the other, as philosophy finds knowledge, and problems, and needs results and solutions. For this, education is the second way to help philosophy to search for and investigate knowledge.
Therefore, philosophy would be passive while education is active in progressing philosophy. [Johan Adams] “Education is the dynamic side of philosophy. Without education, philosophy is unable to achieve wisdom, and likewise, education needs philosophy to show wisdom so that education can walk toward that wisdom.
Therefore, Tilak and Gandhi said, ‘Education without philosophy is blind and philosophy without education is invalid.'”
Contribution of philosophy to education
The contribution of philosophy to education is clear. The contributions of philosophy to education are unlimited. Because philosophy is the soul of education, like a body.
Education is unthinkable without philosophy, so it is due to philosophy that education reaches its true destination. Education is the way to reach a destination and philosophy is the tool or way itself on which education passes.
Education is built by educators. It is then proven that great philosophers have been great educators, such as Socrates, Imam Ghazali, and Mother Teresa.
How and why? Let’s take a look at its three main branches, through which education is running.
Aims of education: Metaphysics.
The aim of education is metaphysics. Metaphysics provides aims for education, such as what should be achieved, gained, and avoided.
It also helps to determine what is essential, real, and true, and what is not. This is what we call the curriculum, and it is through this that education runs. Metaphysics helps educators choose the content, topics, and real knowledge and truth behind them.
Methods of education: Epistemology.
Through epistemology, we know what knowledge is given to learners, whether it is revealed, natural, or rational
Philosophy tells us what methods of teaching are suitable for what knowledge, how the knowledge is transferred, and why it is worth teaching.
The value of education: Axiology.
The first priority of education is character building, instilling social norms and values, developing ethics, and moral development, appreciating beauty, and teaching art skills to learners.
This is all due to the philosophy of axiology, which educationists use to build the curriculum for learners. Therefore, without the treasures of wisdom, education remains a lifeless body without its soul; philosophy.
Finally, as described above, philosophy and education are interrelated.
“Education without its soul cannot live, and philosophy without its body cannot move.
Unfortunately, the soul of education has been separated, and education nowadays remains a lifeless body that cannot see the new treasures of wisdom.
Therefore, to find these new treasures of wisdom, the educators must put a soul into the body of education so that people can emerge from the dark cave into the light of knowledge.”
By – Shah Nawaz Noor
The writer is a student of the Education department at the University of Turbat.