Philosophy and education are closely inter-related and inter-dependent. Philosophy points out the ways and education follow it. Without philosophy education would be a blind effort and without education, philosophy would be crippled. In the word of Ross, “philosophy and education are two side of same coin; the former is the contemplative side while the latter is the active side. Education is the process and philosophy is the product. All educational problems are questions of philosophy. In other word we can say that the application of philosophical principle in the field of education to solve various educational issues is regarded as educational philosophy. In fact, educational philosophy is that philosophy which provide answer to the educational issues of why to educate (aim), whom to educate (child), who to educate (teacher), where to educate (school), what to educate (curriculum), how to educate (methods), when to educate (motivation) and so on. Further, “a sound philosophy of education is based on an adequate philosophy of life”. Philosophy and education are reconstructive; they give to and take from each other in ebb and flow of thought and action; they are means to one another, and ends. Thus it is the application of general philosophical positions to educational problems is known as philosophy of education.

The following are a few viewpoints that establish the relationship between philosophy and education: View of John Dewey: John Dewey endorses the viewpoint of Ross when he says, “Philosophy is the theory of education in its most general phase”. Fichte’s view: “The art of education will never attain complete clearness without philosophy”. Spencer’s view: “True education is practicable to true philosophers”. Gentile’s view: “Education without philosophy would mean a failure to understand the precise nature of education”. John Adams : Education is the dynamic side of philosophy. T.P.Nunn: Education aims are correlative to ideals of life. Dewey: Education is the laboratory in which philosophical direction become concrete and tested. Conner: theory (philosophy) directs practice (education) and practice directs theory.

We may define educational philosophy thus; it is the application of philosophical principle in the educational practices which direct the process of education towards the aims of human life. In short, educational philosophy relates philosophy of life through the medium of education. 1.5.1 DEPENDENCE OF EDUCATION ON PHILOSOPHY Philosophy determines the real destination towards which education has to go: Philosophy has always inspired educational theory as well as practice. It determines the real destination towards which education has to go. In the words of Dewey: “Education is laboratory in which philosophic distinctions become concrete, and are tested”. Philosophy is wisdom; education transmits that wisdom from one generation to the other. Philosophy represents a system of thought; education embraces that thought in the content of instruction. Philosophy embodies a way of life; education is the preparation for life. Philosophy is the knowledge obtained by natural reason; education is the development of that reason and other powers of mind. Philosophy determines the various aspects of education: All the problems of education are the problems of philosophy. That is why, Gentile says, “Education without philosophy would mean a failure to understand the precise nature of education “. It is because philosophy determines both aim of life and the aim of education. Every aspect of education has a philosophical base. There is no aspect of education – aims, curriculum, methods, text books, discipline, teacher etc. which is not influenced and determined by philosophy. Height and breadth of education is probed by philosophy. It is philosophy which provides aims to education and these aims determine the curriculum, the methods of teaching, the text books, the role of the teacher and the school discipline. It helps to construct curriculum according to the needs of the individual and the society. J.S.Ross remarks, “From every angle of the educational problems comes the demand for philosophical basis of life and education. Great Philosophers have been great educationists also: Great Philosophers have been great educationists in the East as well in the West. We can find the clearest examples of the dependence of education on philosophy in the lives and teachings of all the great philosophers from Yajnavalka down to Gandhi in the East and from Socrates down to John Dewey in the West. Philosophers like Gandhi, Tagore, Radhakrishnan, Aurobindo Gosh, Plato, Socrates, Locke, Comenius, Rousseau, Froebel and Dewey have been great educators. They reflected their philosophical views in their educational schemes. Socrates have given the world his “Socratic method” (Method of questioning & cross-questioning) of teaching; Plato, the Republic, the first educational classic. Rousseau, the great French philosopher, held that education should “follow nature”. John Dewey of America took keen interest in solving the educational problems of his country. Gandhi ji is the father of Basic Education. In the words of Ross “If further agreement is needed to establish the fundamental dependence of education on philosophy, it may be found in the fact that on the whole great philosophers have been great educationists”. 1.5.2

DEPENDENCE OF PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION

Education is the dynamic side of philosophy: Education can be defined as the strongest instrument for the achievement of the ideals of life and civilized attempt to bring about the balanced and proper development of human personality. The plant of education draws its nourishment from the soil of philosophy. In the words of Adams: “Education is the dynamic side of philosophy. It is the active aspect of philosophical belief, the practical means of realizing the ideals of life”. Philosophy is the theory of education while education is practical thereof. Education is the best means for the propagation of philosophy. Education cannot even be imagined without philosophical principles likewise philosophical principles are lifeless without the help of education. Example- the introduction of the 10+2+3 system of education and craft education are the consequence of philosophical views. Thus philosophy equips us with thoughts and these thoughts are put into practice by education. Education is the means to achieve the goal: Philosophy deals with the ends and education is the means to achieve those ends. Philosophy gives ideals, values and principles; education works out those ideals, values and principles. In the words of Herbert, “Education has no time to make holiday till all the philosophical questions are once for all cleared up”.