Definition, Meaning, Nature, Scope, and Branches of Philosophy B.Ed Notes
Back to: Philosophical Foundation of Education – Unit 1
The pursuit of wisdom is an eternal quest. Since times immemorial we have been looking for the truth about life and death, happiness and sorrow. Our thoughts have varied through the ages, as well as our views on reality. Although we may never completely satisfy our curiosity about this mysterious universe, this eternal quest is what generates all knowledge. The pursuit of wisdom is the essence of every religion, philosophy, or science.
Meaning
Philosophy is the study of the nature of being and the human condition. It is a discipline that focuses on those questions we ask about life and how we should live it. Philosophy is concerned with the questions that cannot be answered by science or religion, such as what it means to be human, or whether something can have value beyond our own senses. Even though there are many different ways for people to philosophize about these issues, all approaches share a common goal: to figure out how best to live one’s life.
Definition
Philosophy of education is an interdisciplinary field that investigates the reasons why humans are interested in learning or how they become teachers and learners. It views learning as a human process rather than a product and it examines educational experience as a complex, dynamic and unpredictable process. The philosophy of education is essentially a method of approaching educational experience rather than a body of conclusions. It is the precise technique that creates it philosophy. In the past, philosophers have approached educational experience from different angles, i.e., from psychological, sociological, or value-ethical perspectives to name but three.
Nature of Philosophy
The nature of philosophy is to explore general questions regarding the nature of reality, the human condition, and existence. Philosophy also addresses such questions as, why do humans do what we do? Can an individual be certain of anything? New philosophical discoveries can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves, our relationships with others, and our place in the universe. It is a branch of philosophy that investigates principles of reality, transcending those of any particular science. It is bothered with explaining the basic nature of being and therefore the world.
Branches of Philosophy
The branch of philosophy can be divided into three:
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies metaphysical questions, such as “What sorts of things exist?” Metaphysics is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and its origin. Some examples of metaphysical questions include: What is it like to be a bat? What do we mean when we say that the earth goes around the sun? Metaphysicians try to answer these questions in order to better understand how we should live our lives and interact with the world around us.
Axiology
The branch of philosophical inquiry that explores.
Aesthetics
It is the study of basic philosophical questions on art and beauty.
Ethics
It is the study of what makes actions right or wrong, and of how theories of right action can be applied to special moral problems.
Epistemology
Epistemology is a branch of philosophy that studies or examines the nature and origin of knowledge, the limits of what can be known about reality, and its limitations. Epistemology deals with a wide variety of philosophical topics useful for understanding several important fields, including ethics, the philosophy of language, logic, and mathematics.
Scope of Philosophy
The scope of the philosophy of education is confined to the sphere of education.
- Aims
- Ideals of Education Philosophy
- Interpretation of Human Nature
- Educational Values
- Theory of Knowledge
- Relationship of education
The above points mentioned are various scopes of philosophy and the area of national life and various components of national life.
