Jemeica Beckford

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Realism

• By
• Jemeica Beckford
• Gina Campbell
• Rebecca Rabinsky
• Paul Ruth

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Introduction to Realism

• Realism many variations confusing
• Central thread - principle or thesis of
  independence
• reality, knowledge and value exist independently
  of the human mind
• rejects idealist notion that only
• ideas are real

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Breakdown of Realism
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Classical Traditions

• Aristotelian Realism
• ideas important but study material better
• Most important question
• What is the purpose?
• - Golden Mean
• - good edu. helps achieve golden mean

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Classical Traditions

• Aristotelian Realism
• universe orderly
• mind/body work together
• Syllogism testing truths
• ultimate goal happiness
• need virtuous/well-ordered soul
• use golden mean

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Classical Traditions

• Religious Realism
• Thomas Aquinas
• Aristotles philosophy w/ Christian concepts
• relationship between reason faith
• truths internally in God, but God gave us reason
  to seek truths
• sensory observation

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Classical Traditions

• Religious Realism
• only god can touch soul directly
• teacher motivate/direct learner through signs,
  symbols techniques of encouragement
• Leading the students from ignorance to
  enlightenment is one of the greatest services one
  person can give to another.

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Classical Traditions

• Religious Realism
• Knowledge from observation reason
• edu. goal - perfection of human being reunion
  of soul with God - exercise intelligence
  accomplish
• educate by family church

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Modern Realism

• Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
• philosopher politician
• Knowledge is power
• thought Aristotelians made science lazy
• developed reliable method of inquiry
• inductive method

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Modern Realism

• Francis Bacon
• Induction arriving at generalizations on the
  basis of systematic observations of particulars
  (ex. acorn)
• urged people to reexamine previously accepted
  knowledge.
• stated idols which we bow down upon
• den, tribe, marketplace and theatre

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Modern Realism

• John Locke (1632-1704)
• distrusted abstract idealism
• Believed no innate ideas
• mind is blank piece of paper
• tabula rasa
• ideas printed onto paper
• ideas come from sensation reflection

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Contemporary Realism

• Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947)
• idealism w/ realism
• reality is process
• preferred realism - thought helped correct excess
  subjective thought
• education - living ideas, ideas connected to
  learner and ideas useful capable of being
  articulated

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Contemporary Realism

• Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)
• controversial
• believed logically mathematically patterns can
  be verified
• science has genuine claim to knowledge
• believed we could begin solve problems (poverty
  ill health)

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Contemporary Realism

• Hilary Putnam (1926-)
• If philosophy can be put into a nutshell, then
  it belongs in one.
• internal realism
• leans more towards pragmatism

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Contemporary Realism

• John R. Searle (1932-)
• social reality
• Reality brute facts social facts
• brute facts wear out over time (a dollar bill)
• social facts do not wear out (concept of value)
• essential ingredient of social reality is
  language.

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Realism as a Philosophy of Education

• Aims of Education
• Methods of Education
• Curriculum
• Role of Teacher
• Critique

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AimsinEducationwith Ms. Rebecca Rabinsky
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Aims in Education

• always need for basic, factual information -
  realism necessary
• education - essential practical knowledge that
  exists independently of the knower
• emphasis on practical side of education

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Religious vs. SecularAims
Aims

• transcending principal aim of education
• god created world, he put himself into the world
  giving it design, study world, discover order, we
  can come to know more about god
• Waldo
• Emerson

• science aim of education
• self preservation primary/ fundamental aim of
  education
• ideas subject public verification, if scientific
  method cant prove, must be recognized as
  hypothesis
• technical schools
• have realist
• approach

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Realism Today

• A Nation at Risk 1983
• Requirements for high
• school New Basics
• 4 years English, 3 years Math, 3 years
• Science, 3 years Social Studies, ½ year
• Computer Science (2 years foreign
• language future college students
• recommended)

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FunwithRealismAIMS
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Methods ofEducationwith Ms. Jemeica Beckford
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Secular vs. Religious

• see physical world primarily in its use
• value in improving technology
• value advancing civilization

• Knowledge should ultimately lead to things beyond
  itself
• God / truth

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Alfred North Whitehead

• Rhythmic Flow of Education
• 3 Primary Stages
• Stage of Romance
• Stage of Precision
• Stage of Generalization

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Ending Thoughts

• Learn about Facts
• Rhythmic Flow of Education
• Learning should be enjoyable!

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FunwithRealismMETHODS
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Curriculumwith Ms. Gina Campbell
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Practical Useful

• Realists agree studies should be practical and
  useful
• John Locke emphasized physical activity
• believed children should accustom themselves to
  Heat and cold, rain and shine.

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Curriculum

• historic feature of realism curriculum on
  didactic object studies in education
• realist propose a mental and physical curriculum

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FunwithRealismCURRICULUM
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Role ofTeacherwith Mr. Paul Ruth
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Role of Teacher

• Present material in systematic way
• Teach practical material
• Teachers take critical look at themselves

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Role of Teacher

• not just route learning or
• only memorization
• logic and rationality
• provide intellectual
• standards of what it
• means to be reasonable
• Truth comes from facts

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FunwithRealismROLE OF TEACHER
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Critique

• realism received major attention with industrial
  technical age
• vocal critics of realism existentialism
  postmodernism
• argue against idea of a fixed universe
• todays realists, scientists
• technicians not unified
• knowledge

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Criticized but Praised

• criticized for discipline hard work
• argue education should not be forced
• large percent of public schools believe lack of
  discipline 1 problem
• many public schools like
• the realists no-nonsense
• approach to education

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Thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed
this presentation!
The End