Philosophy of education is the study of questions such as ‘What is education?’ ‘What is the purpose of education?’, ‘What does it mean to know something?’ ‘What is the relationship between education and society?’ The philosophy of education recognizes that the development of a civil society depends on the education of the young as responsible, thoughtful and enterprising citizens which is a challenging task requiring deep understanding of ethical principles, moral values, political theory, aesthetics and economics; not to mention an understanding of children themselves.

Educational philosophy is philosophy applied to education as a specific area of human endeavor. It involves bringing those critical reflections which characterize philosophy in general to influence and direct the range of experiences and possessions that may be referred to as education. Philosophy of education does not exist in a vacuum, but within a particular social and historical context. It plays an important role in providing direction to education on different issues as well as providing a theory of knowledge for education to work upon. Philosophy of education is essentially a method of approaching educational experience rather than a body of conclusions. It is the specific method which makes it philosophical. Philosophical method is critical, comprehensive and synthetic.

This course will provide learners with an opportunity to consider a variety of educational issues from a philosophical perspective. The course will explore general questions such as: What is the ultimate goal of education? This course positions philosophy within various historical contexts and uses historical thinking tools to engage with philosophical thinking tools. The course introduces students to a wide range of philosophers and a wide range of philosophical schools of thought as they relate to education. This course provides a study of the educational implications of Idealism, Realism, Naturalism, Experimentalism and Existentialism. Significant factors will include the curricula emphasis, preferred method, ethics, and aesthetics stressed by each philosophy. Attention is placed on the learner’s ability to identify and describe his or her own philosophy of education.

Learning Outcomes:

After the completion of this course the students would be able to:

• Understand the meaning of the term Philosophy
• Understand the subdivisions of philosophy as well as how they are defined
• Describe the scope of philosophy of education
• Understand the relationship between philosophy and education
• Comprehend the leading philosophies of education
• Compare the philosophical perspectives of different philosophers
• Review the contribution of Muslim philosophers towards Education
• Understand the application of educational philosophies
• Understand the role of Values in individual and social life

Class Meeting Time:

Assessment Criteria