Issues and Alternatives in Educational Philosophy - Wikispaces教育哲学的问题和替代Wikispaces.ppt

Issues and Alternatives in Educational Philosophy Philosophic Issues in Education Chapter 2 Metaphysics What is ultimately real? Metaphysics Cont. What is real depends on the viewers perspective. What is real to one, might be viewed differently to others. 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 it’s 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 person’s sense of the ultimate reality their decisions are metaphysically based dealing with nature and functions of humanity. Metaphysics and Education It’s “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 Metaphysics and Education (pg. 19) “The anthropological aspect of metaphysics is especially important for educators……they 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 Epistemology Branch of philosophy Studies nature, sources, and validity of knowledge Epistemology Dimensions of Knowledge Can reality be known? Gorgias, Greek Sophist, expressed that nothing exists