Philosophy and Education Continuum Chart

General or Idealism: Realism: Pragmatism: Existentialism:

World Ideas are the only true Reality exists Universe is dynamic, Reality is subjective,
Philosophies reality, the only thing independent of human evolving. Purpose of within the individual.
worth knowing. mind. World of physical thought is action. Truth is Individual rather than
Focus: Mind objects ultimate reality. relative. external standards.
Focus: Body Focus: Experience Focus: Freedom
Originator(s) Plato, Socrates Aristotle Pierce, Dewey Sartre, Kierkegaard
Curricular Subject matter of mind: Subject matter of Subject matter of social Subject matter of
Emphasis literature, history, physical world: science, experience. Creation of personal choice
philosophy, religion math new social order
Teaching Teach for handling ideas: Teach for mastery of Problem solving: Project Individual as entity within
Method lecture, discussion facts and basic skills: method social context
demonstration, recitation
Character Imitating examples, Training in rules of Making group decisions Individual responsibility
Development heroes conduct in light of consequences for decisions and
preferences
Related Perennialism: Essentialism: Progressivism: Reconstructionism/
Educational Focus: Teach ideas that Focus: Teach the Focus: Ideas should be Critical Theory
Philosophies are everlasting. Seek common core, "the tested by active Focus: Critical
enduring truths which are basics" of information experimentation. pedagogy: Analysis of
constant, not changing, and skills (cultural Learning rooted in world events,
through great literature, heritage) needed for questions of learners in controversial issues and
art, philosophy, religion. citizenship. (Curriculum interaction with others. diversity to provide vision
can change slowly) Experience and student for better world and
centered. social change.
Key Robert Hutchins, William Bagley; John Dewey, George Counts,
Proponents Jacque Maritain, Arthur Bestor, William Kilpatrick J. Habermas,
Mortimer Adler, E. D. Hirsch, Ivan Illich,
Allan Bloom Chester Finn, Henry Giroux,
Diane Ravitch, Paulo Freire
Theodore Sizer
Related Information Processing Behaviorism Cognitivism/ Humanism
Theories of The mind makes Behavior shaped by Constructivism Personal freedom,
Learning meaning through design and determined Learner actively choice,
(Psychological symbol-processing by forces in environment. constructs own responsibility.
Orientations) structures of a fixed body Learning occurs as result understandings of reality Achievement
of knowledge. Describes of reinforcing responses through interaction with motivation
how information is to stimuli. environment and towards highest
received, processed, Social Learning reflection on actions. levels. Control of
stored, and retrieved Learning by observing Student-centered own destiny. Child
from the mind. and imitating others. learning around conflicts centered.
to present knowing Interaction with
structures. others.
Key R. M. Gagne, Ivan Pavlov, Jean Piaget, J.J. Rousseau,
proponents E. Gagne, John Watson, U. Bronfenbrenner, A. Maslow,
Robert Sternberg, B.F. Skinner, Jerome Bruner, C. Rogers,
J.R. Anderson E.L. Thorndike, Lev Vygotsky A. Combs,
Albert Bandura R. May