IMPLICATIONS OF PRAGMATISM IN MODERN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

       Education and philosophy are closely inter-related. Philosophy is the corner stone of the foundation of the education. Philosophy answers thousands of questions in the field of education.

     Pragmatism is recognized as the native philosophy of America. Historically the Pragmatic approach can be traced to Protagoras, a sophist Philosopher of ancient Greece who said “Man is the measure of all things”.

please consider subscribing our video channel

    John Dewey (1859-1952) becomes its leading and most influential exponent. He practised it in his laboratory school set up in Chicago in 1896.His purpose was to train pupils in co-operation and mutually useful living.

   The term Pragmatism is sometimes called “Progressivism”. “Progress implies Change. Change further implies novelty”. So education cannot be convenience of as acquired once for all. Life has become as complex as is subject to rapid modifications that the child has to face new problems and education should enable the child to learn new techniques and problematic situations. Problem solving is at the core of all the education. The educative process becomes empirical, experimental and piecemeal: in a word Pragmatism.

 BASIC PRINCIPLES

Ø    Pragmatists believe that man is primarily a biological and sociological organism. Past, for man is dead and go on. Tomorrow would come with its own problems and with their own problems.

Ø    Human beings are essentially active. Here emphasis is on action and learning by doing. Action is real and ideas are tools.

Ø    There are no absolute values of life. Values are flexible. They change with time and circumstances.

Ø    Mind is dynamic process, which functions within a man. The human mind is the product of change. The growth of personality is the product of action and discovery. Development of personality is possible only in social context.

Ø    Truth is that which works in practical situations. It is workable.

Ø    Thought and knowledge emerges from search and enquiry.

Ø    Pragmatism makes activity; the basis of all teaching prefers self activity in the context of co-operative activity.

IMPORTANCE OF ECLECTIC APPROACH IN EDUCATION

 INTRODUCTION

               Philosophy of education can refer to either the academic field of applied philosophy or to any of educational philosophies that promote a specific type or vision of education, and/or which examine the definition, goals and meaning of education. Education and philosophy are closely inter-related. If philosophy is love of knowledge then education is acquisition of knowledge. For a long time education was regarded as a disciplinary process and learning by attempt was important for student. After that child-centered education laid an emphasis on presenting education according to the child’s interest. Today these two contradictory forms come to a compromise. Interest has been admitted as the fundamental truth for attraction of the child, and once interest is created; even attempt would not be uninteresting to him. But neither is complete in itself; hence, co-ordination between two is necessary. The study of educational philosophy helps an educationalist to critically evaluate his own practices and make necessary changes in his practice. Philosophy has the potential for provoking revolutionary changes, revises and rejects some of our beliefs, develops analytical and logical skills and reasoning. Educational philosophy clarifies concept and analyses propositions, beliefs and theories of education. A philosophy vision is essential to understand the new trends in the educational systems especially the contemporary educational movements.
please consider subscribing our video channel

MEANING OF ECLECTICISM

            Eclecticism has been derived from the verb root “elect”. To elect means to choose and pick up. The good ideas, concept and principles from various schools of thought have been chosen, picked up and blended together to make a complete philosophy. Thus eclecticism is a philosophy of choice. Eclecticism is nothing but fusion of knowledge from all sources. It is a peculiar type of educational philosophy which combines all good ideas and principles from various philosophies. Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases. It can sometimes seem inelegant or lacking in simplicity, and eclectics are sometimes criticized for lack of consistency in their thinking. It is, however, common in many fields of study.

NEED OF ECLECTIC PHILOSOPHY IN EDUCATION