Sunteți pe pagina 1din 5

Contents of Education-spun1

An Islamic Point of view towards Philosophy of Training Introduction Philosophy will be the study of realities, pursuit of wisdom, and commentary on common principles of life. It really is concerned with a search of eternal truth, each conceptual at the same time as practical. It has 5 places of search Epistemology, Metaphysics, Aesthetics, Ethics and Background. The instrument employed by philosophy to unearth realities or to learn truth is logic, the two inductive too deductive. Educational philosophy is often a branch of basic philosophy, it gains strength from epistemology. It formulates the aims and objectives or contents of education that, in turn, influence the whole understanding setting, society, and future generations. Philosophy of education is based on common concepts of psychology, sociology, politics, economics, historical past, science, and religion. Training is dualistic phenomenon; it is static as well as dynamic. The significant portion is dynamic or provisional and adjusts with all the adjust and development in information, social construction, and civilization, even though the minor but important portion is static or eternal. We proposed that the contents of education are eternal whilst the application and explanation of those contents, a significant portion, is dynamic. We assumed multi-disciplinary method towards contents of training. The analysis accommodates the wants of men and women, society, and time and encompasses the cultural, social, and vocational aims of education. Education might be formal at the same time as informal. The formal education is given in colleges or colleges or universities, however informal education is obtained and absorbed from society and setting. Training, formal & informal, is developed and internalized in one's personality through reflection and experience. It means all of us are learners during our lifetime. However, we are going to analyze the philosophy (aims & objectives) of formal education. Moreover, training has three levels - primary, secondary, and higher. Primary education deals with infants of 3 to 11 years old, secondary training covers teenagers of 12 to 18 years, and higher training shapes young learners of above 18 years. A distinctive approach is required for each level of education. The contents of education vary from community to community. A secular society would have a different approach towards contents as compare to some ideological society. Moreover, the explanation or implementation of contents would be different in different societies. Our evaluation is ideological and dominantly based on Islamic view towards training. Terminology The term "education" has been derived from the Latin words Educare, Educatum, or Educere. Educatum and educare mean to train and to nourish, even though educere mean to lead out. The former implies that education is something external; to be imposed or put in from outside, it means the external environment plays a decisive role in mastering process. The latter indicate growth from within; it means internal potentialities of an individual are decisive in mastering process, the external surroundings has secondary role in educational process. Naturalists / Psychologists gave more importance to internal dispositions of mastering process even though the social philosophers put major stress on external demands of educational process. We assumed a mixed and balanced strategy towards role and importance of internal-external atmosphere of mastering process. Definition Aristotle defined education as process necessary for the creation of a sound mind in a sound body, according to him, the aim & objective of training is to create good and virtuous citizens. Ibne Khaldun, in fourteenth century, expresses the view that education consists off intellectual, social, and moral training through which hidden potentialities are developed, traits of character are built and culture of the people is conveyed to the coming generations. Dewey, in twentieth century, defined training in these words: "Education is a process of living through a continuous reconstruction of experiences. It's development of all those capacities in the individual that will enable him to control his setting and fulfill his possibilities." We may possibly define education as, Training could be the mean whereby adults pass on and inculcates to children their information, thought-pattern, and behavior pattern and develop their genetic potential to manage existing and future challenges.

file:///L|/PDF/Contents_of_Education-spun1.html[1/11/2012 6:52:56 PM]

Contents of Education-spun1

Aims & Goals - Islamic View Islam is Divine religion. It really is based on revealed book, Quran, and prophetic commentary, Hadith. history. The foremost responsibility and ultimate purpose of prophets and Revealed Books are to educate the mankind for better, happy, and purposeful existence. They specify the purpose of existence, outline the procedure to actualize it, and present a practical example of purposeful existence. Thus, the aims and objectives of education or contents of education can be understood from the last Revealed Book, Al-Quran. We quote a verse of Al-Quran, "Undoubtedly Allah did confer a great favor on the Muslims when He raised an Apostle from among themselves, who recites to them the Revelations of Allah, and causeth them to grow, and teacheth them the Scripture and Wisdom whereas they were in manifest error before." (Al-Quran) The verse identifies aims and goals of education. These are:

A. FAITH The word faith has various meanings and uses, however, the central meaning is similar to "conviction", "belief", "trust" or "confidence", but unlike these terms, "faith" tends to imply a submissive and transpersonal relationship with God or with someone having superior powers. Faith is founded on certain beliefs; beliefs' indispensability to faith is just like seeds' inevitability to plants. A belief system has certain perceptual ingredients with practical implications. A living faith must fulfill two conditions, the necessary condition is logical reasoning and sufficient condition is practical fruits for believers / mankind. A living faith gives stability to the believer, creates dynamism in one's personality, brings fruits in one's lifestyle, promotes cohesiveness among the believers, and assigns a specific shape to a group with peculiar traits. We mention a few verses of the Holy Quran to outline and explain the basic elements of Islamic Faith. "A Glorious Book this! Which has nothing of doubt in it; it's guidance for the God-conscious who fear Allah. Those who believe in the Unseen and establish prayer and spend in Our way out of what We have provided them. And those who believe in that which has been sent down to you (O My Apostle) and in that which was sent down before you, and they also have faith in the August Day of Judgment. They are the ones who are rightly guided, and verily it is they who are successful in each the worlds." (Al-Quran) The first thing that the Quran does it removes the element of doubt, which could be the foremost requisite of modern philosophy by introducing the faith as a fundamental factor behind reality. Doubt is often a negative factor that hinders the exact understanding of reality; curiosity is far better alternate to doubt for information development or to unearth realities. The faith concomitantly presupposes some obligatory beliefs - Unity of God, Unseen System (Angels, Heaven, Hell, etc.), Revealed Books, Institution of Prophets, Day of Judgment, Fate, and Daily life after Death. In addition, it imposes some obligations on believers - Kalimah (a confession of faith), prayer, fasting, alms giving, and pilgrimage. It's noteworthy that the idea of Unity of God must create the belief of mankind's unity. The Islamic method towards faith is that it truly is revealed, explained, and planted through reverent personalities, i.e., prophets; a faith according to personal reasoning is not acceptable in Islam, the finality of prophets' wording about faith elements is also essential. In addition, a loving and trustful posture towards prophets is fundamental for complete faith, without it faith is incomplete or objectionable. The very foundation of faith is thus love and submission to a reverent personality or a prophet. Simply, faith can be defined as accepting something true which has been told by someone who is believed to be trustworthy / praiseworthy. The object behind development of faith is to make stable and balance psycho-spiritual formation of human personality. The prophets are sent as practical role modals and revealed books are accompanied as permanent working manual for guideline. The ultimate aim of developing faith elements is to equip the individual with necessary working tools to
file:///L|/PDF/Contents_of_Education-spun1.html[1/11/2012 6:52:56 PM]

Contents of Education-spun1

manage and tackle the conceptual or practical issues of daily life, either, big or small, simple or complex, independent or interlinked, a few or many, with fortitude and firmness. Thus, determination is necessary outcome of faith, no determination, than no faith. Islam vehemently put forward two aspects of faith - human and transcendental. The human aspects propose the concept of unity of mankind, whilst the transcendental aspects propose the idea of Unity of God. Faith is incomplete if one aspect is ignored or not forcefully defined. In addition, the ignorance of one aspect makes the human personality lopsided and unstable. The repercussions of wrong belief about unity of mankind and Unity of God are manifold and penetrating to each and every aspect of human society. It can lead the nations into some kind of continuous strife and belligerent attitude towards each other. Moreover, the effects of wrong belief go beyond the present generations' outlook and disturb the peace and tranquility of future generations, at the same time. B. Information It's the understanding of the factual/declarative, procedural and conceptual aspects of something that a person acquires through education, observation and experience. Acquisition of knowledge is basic demand of human nature. It plays crucial role in growth and development of a person or a nation. 1. Bases of Human Expertise: -Let us quote some verses of the Quran on the subject: And recall when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to appoint a vice-regent in the earth." They said: "Will You set in the earth such as will make mischief and cause bloodshed, whereas we celebrate Your praise and glorify You." Allah said:" Surely I know that which you know not."And Allah taught Adam the names of all things. Then He set them before the angels saying: "Tell Me the names of those if you are really truthful (in your opinion)" They said: "Glory to You! We have no understanding what You have taught us. In truth, You alone are the All-Knowing, the AllWise." Allah said:' O Adam! Tell them the names of those things." Then Adam had told the angels the names of those things, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know full nicely all the hidden mysteries of the heavens and the earth and I know whatever you disclose and whatever you have been concealing? The verses manifest that the human nature has been made inherently fit and capable of receptivity and absorption of Divine Knowledge. Moreover, Adam's understanding has ability to conceptualize the things in nature. Thirdly, man has ability to develop language because Adam assigned names to items without prior formal training. These verses also show that the first man of the earth came down fully abreast of scientific expertise, in full monopoly to develop it for natural conquest. According to Quran, than the program of human activity should proceed hand in hand with all the divine cooperation and blessing, before the plan was being carried on unilaterally in which God has no vice-regent. The verses also indicate that a man has free will to choose right or wrong path of life. There is no external compulsion on his free choice. The verses also indicate that the mankind has strong tendency towards injustice and strife, however, it can be managed through human expertise and is restrained by the Will of God. 2. Types of expertise: -Knowledge can be classified into following groups:

Islam accepts the scientific classification of expertise, however, it proposed a broader taxonomy of information for mankind:First, Absolute verses Dubious Expertise. The absolute information is determined by some scientific facts or provided through some reverent personality (i.e., prophets) in a shape of Revealed Book (e.g., Quran). The dubious knowledge is based on subjective analysis (e.g., the theory of psycho-analysis proposed by Freud.). Second, Fruitful verses Fruitless Understanding. The fruitful knowledge gives benefit to mankind (e.g., natural sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, and, professional sciences.) while the fruitless information is of no use for mankind (e.g., occult

file:///L|/PDF/Contents_of_Education-spun1.html[1/11/2012 6:52:56 PM]

Contents of Education-spun1

sciences). 3. Aspects of Expertise: -A peace of understanding can be broken into three categories or has three aspects Declarative, Procedural & Conceptual.

C. WISDOM Information enables us to understand the realties of things (i.e., Divine Scheme of Creation, Natural System of Growth, natural forces, and historical past) and wisdom equip us with abilities to utilize the realities for the benefit of self and others. According to Islam, wisdom is higher level attribute, it comes after expertise. Wisdom is bestowed when will of man is replaced by Will of God and human understanding is fully exploited, thus, wisdom is determined by information and intellect. Let us quote a verse to make it clear: "He bestows wisdom upon whom He will, and whosoever is granted wisdom he is indeed granted abundant good and none accepts admonition except men of understanding." (Al-Quran) Islam proposed two diagonally opposites aspects of wisdom - Divine Wisdom and devil wisdom. The Divine Wisdom is according to right faith and fruitful information and produce good results for self and mankind, materially also as spiritually, while the devil wisdom is according to wrong faith and fruitless understanding and leads the mankind towards only worldly or material benefits, completely ignoring the benefits of others and spiritual benefits. The devil wisdom guides for self benefits at the cost of others, however, the devil / worldly wisdom is short-lived and weak, ultimately fails to materialize her lopsided designs. Character-Sketch of a Wise Person Wisdom is personalized, established, and manifested through struggle. A person fully involved in chores of lifestyle would qualify for wisdom. Seclusion or solitude is very negation of wisdom, although the participation is very basis of wisdom. A wise person pursue his goals/responds the problems of lifestyle with certain characteristics. These characteristics are essential working tools of a wise individual that give him/her edges over non-wise. The prominent attributes of a wise person are - Effective Communication, Enthusiasm, Discipline or Rigor, Decision Power, Sense of Responsibility, Moderate Behavior, Self-Confidence or High Morale or Courage, and Appropriate Appearance. D. BEST MANNERS Manners are countless, structurally, and diverse, practically. However, the essence of good manners is constant for all and sundry, it really is humility. Humility is unique positive attribute of human personality; it really is an attribute also as essence of every positive attribute. Absence of humility makes the existence of all manners a soul-less ritual unable to produce fruitful results for self and others. A proud person is ill-mannered and creates problems for self and others. Manners have two aspects - inner and outer. Inwardly, manners are shaped by dynamic organization of all the perceptions, intentions, and emotions of an individual and the behavior that results from the organization of these aspects, although, outwardly; they are shaped by social acceptance of behavior. Simply,conformity to some rationally defined and morally established interactive standards is considered best manners. Manners are developed under the guidance of intellect, understanding, wisdom, social norms, and religion. They are time-honored phenomena. The reasonably/indisputably evolved set of manners creates order, consistency and continuity in one's life and gives beautiful look to an individual or society. Manners are forerunner of culture and give longevity to civilizations. A society of ill-mannered persons will not be able to survive, at least with respect and recognition. Bases of Best Manners Man is combination of three basic realities, i.e., body, mind, and soul. Body has certain physical needs for survival or

file:///L|/PDF/Contents_of_Education-spun1.html[1/11/2012 6:52:56 PM]

Contents of Education-spun1

continuation of existence such as food, water, and sleep, mind has some instinctual desires for interactive existence such as parental instinct, gregarious instinct, learning instinct, and sex instinct, and soul has some ingrained urges towards moral excellence. Body wants are fulfilled by physical powers, psychological instincts are satisfied by mind powers such as will-power, decision-power, and emotional-power, soul urges are calmed by spiritual powers such as insight and intuition. A sustained manifestation of countless human efforts to satisfy body demands, psychological instincts, and soul urges shapes human personality. In addition, physical balance or health depends on diet, leisure time, proper sleep, and constructive physical activities. Mind normality or peace of mind hinges on positive method towards intentions, perceptions and emotions. Soul is satisfied by rationally-intuitively defined belief system. A balanced strategy towards physical health, mental satisfaction, and spiritual contentment give shape to mannered personality. Moreover, a mannered existence is formed and improved through several group interactions such as social relations, economic dealings, political contacts, and customary connections. Concluding Remarks The aforementioned elaboration about contents of education - faith, information, wisdom & personality traits or manners - manifests that educational institutions should have a comprehensive technique towards mastering. They plant FAITH, give Information, equip with WISDOM and develop PERSONALITY / MANNERS to face existing and upcoming challenges of lifestyle. Each aspect has its own importance and indispensability, one cannot be left at the expense of other, and all is needed. It is noteworthy that only a content-based educational system can produce fruits for society, coming generations and concerned individuals. On the bases of whole analysis, we propose two sample Mission Statements of educational institutions.

file:///L|/PDF/Contents_of_Education-spun1.html[1/11/2012 6:52:56 PM]

S-ar putea să vă placă și