Educational Philosophy and Idealism

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Recommended: Compare and contrast of idealism and realism

To fully comprehend the general idea of this topic we must define primarily what educational philosophy and idealism is. To begin education philosophy may be defined as, “general philosophy being applied to education as a specific area of human endeavor.” (Knight, 2006) Moreover, idealism may be classified as the philosophical theory that maintains that the ultimate nature of reality is based on mind or ideas. It holds that the so-called external or "real world" is inseparable from mind, consciousness, or perception. A simpler way of stating it is that Idealism believes in refined wisdom. It is based on the view that reality is a world within a person's mind. It believes that truth is in the consistency of ideas and that goodness is an ideal state to strive to attain. Idealism being an aspect of educational philosophy has had a lesser amount of sway than in times before. On the other hand, the ideals are still filtering through educational thought. Consequently, during the course of this paper I will go deeper into what exactly Idealism is and the various matters that deal wherein.

The core of Idealism or Idea-ism is the belief that ideas are the only true reality. Furthermore, the substance of the world is exemplified by change, instability and uncertainty; various ideas are enduring. The idealistic individual believes in a world of mind (metaphysics) and in truth as Idea (epistemology). Also an idealist believes that he or she should first and foremost be concerned with the search for truth. Since truth is not to be faulted and everlasting, it cannot be found in the world of matter that is both imperfect and constantly changing.

Idealism at its core is an emphasis on the reality of ideas, thoughts, minds, or selves, rath...

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...this has already been glimpsed in the greatest characters of human history; those great ones are the earnest of the coming men and women God is making through present men and women. To aid in this work is the true calling of all noble souls. And to aim at this fruition, the perfecting of humanity in the image of divinity, is idealism in educating (Horne, 1910)

Works Cited
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2009, from www.britannica.com.

Horne, H. H. (1910). Idealism: First Principles in the Making of Men and Women. New York: Macmillan Company.

Knight, G. R. (2006). Philosophy and Eduation 4th Edition. Berrien Springs: Andrews University Press.

Neff, F. C. (1996). Philosophy and American Education. New York: The Center for Applied Research in Education.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). René Descartes. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from Wikipedia.

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