EDST 200 Rud

1
EDST 200 Rud Week 1-3 Aristotle and Augustine
2
I. Aristotle (384-322 BC) 1. Background a. His
father was a family physician to the king of
Macedonia. b. At age of 18, he came to Athens and
became a student of Plato. c. In 343 BC, became
a tutor of Alexander the Great, then 13 years
old he received from Alexander's travels many
biological specimens. d. From 335 to 323 BC, he
founded a school in Athens and wrote most of his
books. e. He was a professional teacher. He is
straightforward, not mystical like Plato.
3
2. Philosophy a. Epistemology 1. Philosophy
should provide straightforward descriptions of
the observable and changing world. 2. That
which we know through intelligence is the same
thing originally presented to our senses.
Through our rationality we come to know the real.
4
b. Axiology 1. Two kinds of virtue moral
(through habit) and intellectual (through
instruction). Moral activities (justice and
courage) are purely human the happiness of the
intellect is separate. 2. Human goodness
refers to the excellence of the soul, not the
body. 3. There are three kinds of life of
enjoyment, of politics, and of contemplation.
We should seek virtue, better than honor.
5
4. There are two kinds of virtue
intellectual which results from teaching and
moral which comes from habit. 5. What is
virtue it is a mean between two extremes, i.e.,
courage is between cowardice and rashness (the
idea of moderation). 6. Perfecting human
nature requires intelligent agency - the act of
doing. The goal of human life is a result of
purpose and planning.
6
3. Education a. Plentiful exercise, expose them
to the elements to "harden" their bodies. b.
Literature should prepare them for serious
activities. c. Education of young requires
consultation with lawgivers, statesmen. So
there should be laws about education. d. They
should be taught useful arts also reading,
writing, gym, music, drawing. e. We need to
develop habits (a concern of Locke, Dewey) of
virtue. The chief good is happiness, which
depends on a virtuous soul. Greek idea of
harmony. f. Education should teach one how to
enjoy his or her leisure.
7
4. Application in Today's Classroom a. Teachers
would stress conceptual thinking, including
classification and categories. Conceptual
thinking would be based upon empirical
knowledge. b. Schools would be considered
important institutions for helping to inculcate
good habits, as well as morals. c. Students would
develop a curiosity and interest in learning
beyond the classroom so that their leisure time
would be spent in educational pursuits, i.e.,
reading, playing musical instruments.
8

• St. Augustine (354-430 AD)
• Background
• a. An African (born in what is now Algeria).
• b. Had several mistresses as a young man.
• c. Converted to Christianity.
• d. Major works are Concerning the Teacher,
  Confessions, and City of God.
• e. Confessions (397).
• 1. Sought to come to terms with himself.

9
2. Thought a. Firm foundation of Christianity.
1. Reason reveals the true God, which is the
unchanging. The forms of life are in the mind
of God. 2. Rooted in a community of
believers. 3. Likemindedness (Deweys
term). b. Being rooted enables you to discover
that which is timeless, or universal. 1. For
Augustine, it was the truth of Christianity.
Like Socrates, who could not leave Athens.
10
3. Education a. Role of the teacher. 1.
Teacher facilitates a students understanding.
2. Truth is revealed through religion. 4.
Application in todays classroom a. The
importance of learning by doing. b. The issue of
religion in the classroom.