REALISM

WHAT IS REALISM?Derived from a Greek word, “Res”

which means real

WHAT IS REALISM ?REALISM IS :

• The belief in a reality that is completely

ontologically independent of our

conceptual schemes, linguistic practices,

beliefs, etc.

• A philosophy that things exist objectively.

WHAT IS REALISM ? (cont)

• A doctrine that the objects of our senses

exist independently of their being known

or perceived by mind.

• Deals with the fact that reality has an

absolute existence independent from our

thoughts, ideas and even consciousness.

“Realism is the reinforcement of our common acceptance of this world as it appears to us.” – Butler

“The doctrine of realism asserts that there is a real world of things behind and corresponding to the objects of perception.” – J.S Ross

CLASSICALREALIST

AristotleSt. Thomas Aquinas

ARISTOTLE• Aristotle (384-322 BCE)• Greek Philosopher • First prominent Realist

philosophers• Father of Realism• A pupil of Plato• A teacher of Alexander the

Great

Aristotelian Realism• Aristotle explained that each object “had its

own ‘soul’ that directs it in the right way.Statement:

A kitten is a kitten is a kitten. A kitten will grow into a cat but it will

never become a treePrinciple:

Design and order are present in the universe.

• Aristotle also explained that “A tree can exist without matter, but no matter can exist without form.”

Question: How can a tree exist without matter—how is that possible?

Answer: Before they were made, they started as an idea in someone's head and it did not exist.

Logical Explanation: A chair can exist in someone's head; you can sit

on a chair but not on an idea of a chair.

• He mentioned that each thing has a purpose or function. The most important thing we can ask about objects is about their purposes.

Question: What is the purpose of humanity?

Answer: “Because humans are the only

creatures endowed with the ability to think, their purpose is to use this ability.”

• Human’s highest characteristic is thinking. We achieve our true purpose when we think. When we refuse to think, we go against the design of the universe and the reason for our creation.

Aristotle’s Golden Mean (a path between extremes)

The person who follows a true purpose leads a rational life of moderation, avoiding extremes.

Good education helps to achieve the Golden Mean. Aristotle believed that our good comes through

thinking

• He also believed that knowledge of a thing requires an explanation of causality (why it is) or it known as Four Courses :

I. Material cause (the substance of which the thing is made);

II. Formal cause (its design);III. Efficient cause (its maker or builder); and,IV. Final cause (its purpose or function).

• Aristotle is also concerned with logic. The logical method he developed was the syllogism.

Example :

Deductive LogicAll men are

mortal.Danial is a man.

Therefore, Danial is mortal.

Inductive LogicBarney is mortal.

Sam is mortal.James is mortal. All three are men.

So, men are mortal.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS• St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)• Italian Priest• Thomism – Roman Catholic • Reconciled Aristotelian philosophy with Christian concepts• Word of God (faith) = Thinking of Aristotle• Reason and faith = Harmonious realms

• First encountered the work of Aristotle while studying in Naples.

• Became a leading authority on Aristotle in the Middle Ages

• Author of De Magistro (On the Teacher) and Summa Theologica.

• He accepted Aristotle's view that a human has matter and a mind or a body and a soul.

• He also believed that our highest good comes through thinking because we are children of God, our best thinking should agree with Christian tenets.

St. Aquinas’ Beliefs• Aquinas epitomized the scholasticism of the

Middle Ages. • Scholasticism is an approach that emphasized

the human’s eternal soul and salvation.• Only God can touch the soul because Aquinas

believed that God is the Ultimate Teacher.• A teacher can only 'point' the way to knowledge.

• Teaching is a way to serve humankind; it is part of God's work.

“Leading the student from ignorance to enlightenment is one of the greatest

services one person can give to another.”

MODERN REALISTFRANCIS BACON

&JOHN LOCKE

FRANCIS BACON• Francis Bacon (1561-

1626)• Born in London, England• Father of modern science• Originator of the expression

“Knowledge is Power.”

Francis Bacon Realism• In Novum Organum, he challenged Aristotelian

logic.• Believed science was 'delayed' by Aristotelian

thinking• Aristotelian logic was flawed, according to Bacon,

due to theological dogmatism and prior assumptions and it led to false deductions.

• Science must be concerned with inquiry and not pre-conceived notions.

• Science was a tool for creating new knowledge.• Originator of the expression: “Knowledge is Power”

Francis Bacon Realism• Focused on scientific—or inductive—

method uncovered errors in assumptions previously taken for granted.

• Induction reasoning is being used• Human knowledge is divided into 3: I. History – activity of memoryII. Poetry – activity of imaginationIII. Philosophy – activity of reason

Francis Bacon Realism• Believed we should examine all previously accepted

knowledge; • We should rid ourselves of four idols that we 'bow

down' beforeI. Idol of the Den (beliefs due to limited experience)II. Idol of the Tribe (believing because most people

believe)III. Idol of the Marketplace (beliefs due to misuse of

words)IV. Idol of the Theatre (subjective beliefs coloured by

religion and personal philosophy)

JOHN LOCKE•  John Locke (1632-1704)• Medical researcher &

followed the work of Francis Bacon

• Oxford scholar; medical researcher, physician

• An empiricist • Authored Some Thoughts

Concerning Education

John Locke Realism• Locke believed that we are born with a variety of

faculties: enable us to receive and process information (the senses, memory, ability to use language etc) and to manipulate it once we have it

• But there are no such things as innate ideas: mind at birth is a tabula rasa (young minds are not affected by experience)

• As an empiricist, he believed that all ideas are acquired from sources independent of the mind, through experience.

• From educational views: children should be taught as emerging adults because they are rational creatures.

CONTEMPORARY REALISM

Alfred North WhiteheadBertrand Russell

Hilary PutnamJohn R. Searle

“The important things to be learned are ideas, but the ideas need to be connected with experiences.”

ALFRED NORTH

WHITEHEAD(1861-1947)

BERTRAND RUSSELL“He believed philosophy should be

analytical and based on science.”(1872-1970)

ALFRED WHITEHEAD & BERTRAND RUSSELL

• Both born in England• Collaborated on mathematical

writings• Eventually came to teach in the

United States• Both wrote about education• Co-authored Principia Mathematica• Bertrand Russell was a pupil of

Alfred Whitehead.

Alfred Whitehead (1861-1947)• Led to philosophy through the study of

mathematics at age 63• Tried to reconcile some aspects of

Idealism with Realism• Process is central to his philosophy—

reality is a process.• Philosophy is a search for a pattern in

the universe: (Can a fish read?)• The most important things to be learned

are ideas.• Education should be concerned with

living ideas—ideas connected to the experience of learners.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)• Student of Alfred Whitehead• Taught at Cambridge, the

University of California• Imprisoned for pacifist activities• Founded a school called

Beacon Hill• Two kinds of reality: hard data

and soft data

Hilary Putnam (1926- now)• Taught at Northwestern, MIT, and

finally Harvard• The changes in science influence the

philosophy of realism• Coined the term 'internal realism'• Physicists have introduced a 'cut'

between the observer and the universe. The universe is too large and too complex for us to understand. Forced to observe universe with our own limited resources.

• Science will continue to influence the philosophy of realism

John R. Searle (1932- now)• Accepts the traditional view of

Realism• Coined the term 'social reality'• Does reality in the universe just

consist of physical particles and fields of force?

• Social reality created by human consciousness

FORM OF REALISM

Humanistic/VerbalSocial

Sense/ScientificNeo

HUMANISTIC/VERBAL REALISM• The reaction against the emphasise on form

and style of the old classical literature• It has a great regard for the ancient literature but

it emphasizes the study of content and ideas in the ancient classical literature to understand one's present social life and environment

• The aim is not to study the form and style of old literature but to have mastery over it. The study of old literature is a means to understand the practical life.

• Humanists believed that classical literature should be studied for the information and knowledge of the facts of the pasts*

• Erasmus (1446-1537 ), Rabelais (1483-1553), John Milton (1608-1674) were the supporters of this faculty.

SOCIAL REALISM• The reaction against a type of education

that produces scholars and professional men to the neglect of the man of affairs i.e. practice.

• According to social realists, the purpose of education is to prepare the practical man of the world.*

• Education should not produce men who are unfit in social life.

• Social realism explains that education should equip learners for a happy and successful life as a man of the world.

• Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) was the main supporter of this faculty.

SENSE REALISM• The sense realism in education

emphasizes the training of the senses.• Senses are the gateways of knowledge

and learning takes place the operation of the senses.

• According to sense-realists, nature is the treasure house of all knowledge and this knowledge can be obtained through the training of the senses.

• The sense-realists emphasized the three things: Application of inductive method formulated by

Bacon in order to organize and simplify the instructional process

To replace instruction in Latin by the instruction in Vernacular

To substitute new scientific and social studies in place of the studies in language and literature

NEO REALISM• A philosophical thought• It appears the methods and results of modern

development in physics.• Bertrand Russel and Whitehead were the

supporters of this faculty.

• Neo realists: express the changeability in scientific principles

as they do not consider the principles everlasting. support the education of art with the science and

analytical system of education with the humanistic feelings.

consider living and non-living things all exist to be the organs and the development of organs is the main objective and the whole development of the objects is the main characteristic of education

FORM OF REALISM

HUMANISTIC (VERBAL)

REALISMA reaction

against emphasis on form & style of old

classical literature

SOCIAL REALISM

A reaction against

production of scholars

& professional

men & neglect of practice

SENSE (SCIENTIFIC) REALISMA reaction

that emphasizes

on the training of the senses.

NEO REALISM

A philosophical thought

REALISM AND EDUCATION

Aims (idealism vs. realism)Curriculum

Method of teachingThe teacher

School organization

AIMS

• Understanding the material world through inquiry

• A study of science and the scientific method

• A need to know the world in order to ensure survival and good life

• Basic, essential knowledge with a no-nonsense approach

• Transmit culture and develop human nature

AIMS (IDEALISM VS. REALISM)IDEALISM REALISM

1) the aim of education should be directed toward the search for true ideas.

1) To teach truth rather than beauty, to understand the present practical life

2) What they want in society is not just the literate, knowledgeable person but the good person as well

2) To provide the students with essential knowledge he will need to survive in the natural world.

3) idealists place less stress on physical and material studies than they do on studies that are nonphysical, abstract, and universal

3) Importance of material studies such as science

In general :

Realist believes that education should:• Transmit culture• Develop human nature• Provide man with basic education needed for his

survival

The Realist Curriculum• Problem-centered (subject-centered)

• Practical and useful

• Highly organized and systematic

• Physical activity has educational value (Locke)

• Extensive use of pictures (Comenius)

• Attention to the complete person (Locke)

• Use of objects in education (Maria Montessori)

• Highly organized, separate and systematically arranged (Science, Social Sciences and Mathematics)

Realist Method Of Teaching• Emphasis on critical reasoning through observation

• Supports accountability and performance-based teaching

• Scientific research and development

• Mastery of facts: Recitation, experimentation, demonstration, drills, exercises

• Education should proceed from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract.

• Enhanced learning thru direct or indirect experiences: Field trips, lectures, films, TV, audio-visual aids, computer technology & library.

• Learning is based on facts – analysis – questioning.

• Vernacular to be the medium of instruction.

• Precision and order: ringing bells, time periods, daily lesson plans, pre-packaged curriculum materials

• Children should be given positive rewards

Realism and the Teacher • A teacher should be educated and well versed with the customs

of belief and rights and duties of people, and the trends.

• He must have full masteryof the knowledge of present life.

• He must be able to expose and guide the student towards the hard realities of life. (neither pessimist, nor optimist)

• He must be able to co-relate between utility in daily life and education.

• He should define simple rules.

• He should teach subjects in proper order.

• He needs to find out the interest of the child and to teach accordingly.

School Organization Influenced by Realism• 1) School organization would be based on the real

needs of society. (not due to politics)

• 2) The opening of science classes in every school is a must.

• 3) Co-education is a natural happening so it cannot be rejected.

• 4) School is the mirror of the society. It is a miniature form of society and it presents the real picture of the society.