Educational philosophy

Universals cannot be experienced. It is the particular instances of the universal that come under experience. One cannot see a " man", as such or a "tree", as such , but a particular man and a particular tree. However, a communication based on the experience of a particular instance of a universal concept transcends the the boundaries of particularity and becomes universal.

The Quest of Knowledge Traditionally, among the learned people, knowledge is considered as a belief that has its basis either on the sense perception or on a justified valid reasoning. This however amounts to reduce the innumerable ways in which knowledge comes to us. To say that knowledge either comes to us through senses experience or through a rational analysis of the data is to deny the various ways we can access Being. In our common language what we call extrasensory perception is something unbelievable, non-scientific and a representative of morbid mentality. However, this kind of evaluation of the various modes of knowledge undermines them as extrasensory or supra rational and hides our potentials from our own vision. The traditional concept of knowledge is erroneous in the sense that it gives extraordinary value to senses and reason. Knowledge comes to us from sources that are beyond senses or reason. It does not mean that we have to defy reason and senses. Rather it means that...

Education, regardless of the cultural or temporal context in which it is taking place, should result in the empowerment of individuals. Education should leave a person better than what he was and this precisely is the aim of education. Thus, if education does not result in the empowerment of individual, then, it means that education has not performed its function in a proper way. Now, the question is what it means to empower a person through education? The traditional notion, that has come to us form Plato defines knowledge as a virtue. According to this traditional idea, it is knowledge that actually empowers the individual. This idea is also supported by the thinkers like E.D. Hirsch, who relates the extent of knowledge that a person has with the success in life. Thus, for the people who follow a traditional notion of human well being and empowerment, it is knowledge that gives a person the opportunity to live a better life. The more a person knows, the more a person enjoys value in ...

Pragmatic Theory of Truth and Fundamentalism Fundamentalism in Islamic societies is a growing tendency that needs immediate attention. The urgency to address this issue is there because it is threatening the very fabric of the modern societies. Fundamentalism is a form of idealism that emerged from the faith in the eternity of truth. The truth that is being advocated in fundamentalist approaches is not precisely the truth of Islamic spirit; rather, it is related to the preservation of cultural form and non admissibility of the newly emerging forms of the modern culture. Allama Mohammad Iqbal, a famous thinker and poet of the sub-continent, in his work Reconstruction of the religious thoughts in Islam says that Islamic thought has been stagnant for the last five centuries. However, during this immense period so many new cultural forms in the form of new institutions, ideas and practices have emerged. Muslim societies failed to admit and acknowledge these new forms because they did not u...

Foundation of Education Education System in Pakistan Background Pakistan emerged as an Islamic Republic state on August 14, 1947. Pakistan comprises of four provinces: Punjab, North West Frontier Province, Balochistan and Sindh and some federating units which include Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Northern Areas (FANA). Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, which was constructed in the beginning of 1960s. The national language is Urdu. The constitution is Federal parliamentary. Pakistan education policies After independence the country dealt with several issues along with education. Since 1947, many attempts have been made to relate the education system to the needs and inspirations of the country. The first Education Conference was held in 1947 as per directives of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He provided the basic guidelines for the future development of education by emphasizing on such education system w...

‘Democracy and Education’ By John Dewey Chapters reviewed and summarized by Tamkeen Fatima. M.Phil. (2088) Date of Posting: 01/05/2010 CHAPTER-19 Labor And Leisure Dewey discussed here the separation of the educational values that was divided in the domains of Culture and Utility and thought to be intrinsic and absolute in nature. He pointed out that in fact this distinctions was historical and social and was initiated by Greek Philosophers, where this ;division was further translated in educational termsand caused a division between liberal education and a useful practical training for mechanical occupations devoid of intellectual and aesthetic contents. Then Dewey talks about the situations in his time and indicated that even though the situations are much changed bu still there are factors from old theories exist sufficiently to maintain this educational distinction with lots of compromises. Finally Dewey commented that ‘In a democratic society the goal of ed...

‘Democracy and Education’ By John Dewey Chapters reviewed and summarized by Rubina Naz. M.Phil. (4549) Date of Posting: 01/05/2010 DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION BY JOHN DEWEY (1859-1952) To day I am giving you a presentation on the book of Democracy and education. Which is written by John Dewey. He was American psychologist, philosopher educator social critic and political activist. First of all John Dewey has explained main subjects; EDUCATION AS A NECCESSITY OF LIFE: John Dewey counts education as essential for life as oxygen. To highlight the importance of education, he has divided his subject in to three topics. The 1st is, RENEWAL OF LIFE BY TRASNMISSION: Transmission means the process of renewal of life through action upon the environment. This topic elaborates the fact that besides reproduction, transfer of experiences on the main thing, which helps life go on in continuous sequence. This transmission means to inherit habits of dewing, thinking and feeling. The 2nd ...