Issues and Alternatives in

Educational Philosophy
Philosophic Issues in
Education
Chapter 2
Metaphysics

What is ultimately real?

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Metaphysics Cont.
What is real depends on the viewers
perspective. What is real to one, might
be viewed differently to others.

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Metaphysics Cont.
Ex: A table might be describe as being
made of wood, is the color brown, and
has 4 legs.
To a physicist, its reality is its made of
atoms and molecules.

Who would be correct???????
Metaphysics Cont.
Metaphysical questioning subsets:
*cosmology: study of theories about nature and the
development of the universe
*theology:religious theory dealing with conceptions about God
*anthropology:the study of human beings
*ontology:the study of nature of existence
Metaphysics and
Education
One might wonder what does studying
metaphysics have to do with education?
Metaphysical decision making occurs daily
and depending on a persons sense of
the ultimate reality their decisions are
metaphysically based dealing with
nature and functions of humanity.
Metaphysics and
Education

Its central to any concept of education
because it is important that the
educational programs of the school be
based upon fact and reality rather than
fancy, illusion, or imagination.
Metaphysics and
Education
Due to varying beliefs, this leads to differing
educational methods causing some
separation of systems in education.
Private vs. public education



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Metaphysics and
Education
(pg. 19) The anthropological aspect of
metaphysics is especially important for
educatorsthey are dealing with
malleable human beings at one of the
most impressionable stages of their
lives. Views on the nature and potential
of students lie at the very foundation of
the educational process.
Metaphysics and
Education

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Epistemology
Branch of philosophy
Studies nature, sources, and validity of
knowledge

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Epistemology
Dimensions of Knowledge
Can reality be known?
Gorgias, Greek Sophist, expressed that nothing exists, skepticism. This is related to
agnosticism meaning a profession of ignorance.
Is truth relative or absolute?
Absolute truth-eternal and universal, irrespective of time or place
Relative truth- whats true today might not be true tomorrow
Is knowledge subjective or objective?
Is there truth independent of human
experience?



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Epistemology
Sources of Knowledge
The senses
Revelation
Authority
Reason
Intuition
There is no one source of knowledge that
supplies people with all knowledge.
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Epistemology
Three tests of truth:
correspondence theory
-agreement with fact base evidence
coherence theory
-if one says its true and others agree, its true
pragmatic theory
-reject the correspondence theory and coherence theory,
people know only what they experience
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Epistemology and
Education
Stands at the base of human thought and
activity
Assumptions about importance of various
sources of knowledge is reflected in curricular
emphases
science vs. religion
Educators must understand their
epistemological presupposition before they
will be able to operate effectively. (pg. 27)

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The Metaphysical-
Epistemological Dilemma
A web of circularity- you can not have
one without the other
Everyone lives by a faith belief based
on their truths, which everyone does
not and will not agree upon.
Axiology

Axiology answers the question,
What is value?
Axiology Cont.
What has value depends on peoples
preferences. Our system of value is not
agreed upon by everyone. Yet,
students assimilate their teachers value
structure.
Pause to answer this question, What do
you really valuewhat you say or what
you do?

Axiology Cont.
Axiology has 2 main branches

1) Ethics the study of moral values
and conduct.

2) Aesthetics deals with the
theoretical aspects of art.


Axiology Branch 1
Ethics
*Ethical theory is concerned with providing
right values as the foundation for right
actions.
*It is impossible to escape the teaching of
ethical concepts in school.
*Science and technology are neutral but how
and when we choose to use them involve
ethical consideration.

Axiology Branch 2
Aesthetics
*Aesthetics relates closely with imagination and
creativity.
*It is part of your daily experiences.
*Aesthetics helps us move beyond limits
imposed by rational thought.
*Aesthetic belief is directly related to aspects of
their philosophy.

Aesthetic Questions
Axiology and
Education
Educators must consider how
axiology concerns influence our
choices in education
in the twentieth century.
Philosophic Issues
and Educational
Goals and Practices
We must have a re-emphasis of
axiological concerns in educational
practices or education will be part a
destructive force in society rather
than a constructive resource.
Figure 3:
The figure below shows the relationship between philosophic beliefs and
educational practices. It is important for educators to choose, select, and develop
practices that are in harmony with their beliefs.

Philosophic Issues
and Educational
Goals and Practices
These factors impact educational practices.

Perspective
Philosophy has been set forth as a
threefold entity (an activity, an attitude,
and a body of content) that gives
direction to education, since educational
goals have a relationship to the
metaphysical, epistemological, and
axiological content of ones philosophy.
Points to Ponder
1 Just what is it that makes metaphysics so important to
education?

2 Evaluate the various sources of knowing. As you examine
your thinking, do you find an epistemological hierarchy?
What does the answer to that question tell you about your
personal philosophic position?

3 Which is more importantepistemology or metaphysics?
Why?

4 What is it about the field of axiology that makes it explosive
in the schools? What are some of the present-day axiological
issues that are at the forefront of educational discussions?


Bibliography
Knight, George. (2008). Issues and
Alternatives in Educational Philosophy,
fourth edition. Michigan. Andrews
University Press.