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Unit 1: Relation between Education and Philosophy and Philosophy of Education

Epoch personality Mahatma Gandhi has given equal importance to body, mind and soul. In his words— Notes
By education I mean an all round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit.
—Mahatma Gandhi
Greek philosopher Plato also accepted the importance of body and soul. As per him—
Education consists in giving to the body and soul all the perfection to which they are susceptible.
—Plato
Disciple of Plato, Aristotle stressed on the physical and mental development of human. He believed that
only with right development of body and mind, one can feel the soul. He defined education as following—

Education is the creation of a sound mind in a sound body—Aristotle

Materialistic philosophers only consider physical life as truth. As per them, final objective of human life
is to lead a happy life and it is imperative that human should be healthy from body and mind and be
equipped with resources of organic consumption. They want to perform this job by education. As per
materialistic philosophers—
Education is that which enables human to lead a happy and content life.
Naturalistic philosophers of western world too are in favor of attaining materialistic happiness. As per
them, it is possible when human establishes synergy between internal and external environment. As
per Herbert Spencer—
Education means establishment of synergy between inherent powers and external life
—Herbert Spencer.
There is dominance of philosophers in western world, who look at human life in the same perspective,
in which it appears. Followers of Objectivity consider humans as a social creature and believe that
humans should try to bring in appropriate changes in the society and power to construct the future of
the society though education.
In words of philosopher John Dewey-education is the development of all those capabilities in the

individual which enables it to control its environment and fulfill it desires— John Dewey

Sociological Concept of Education

Centre of thoughts of sociologists is society. They look and understand human in the context and
perspective of its society. They consider education as the means of development of individual and
society. They have expressed following views for process of education—

1. Education is a Social Process—sociologists have clarified that when there is social interaction

between two or more people, then they get influenced by each other’s language, thought process and
behavior. This process is called learning and when this is done with certain predefi ned objectives,
then it is called education. We know that humans are innate with some qualities, in the social and
natural environments, these qualities grow and as a result, his behavior changes. For example, system
of sound pronunciation is there by birth, but with this system he learns language of those, in the
company of which he lives and exchanges thoughts. Entire civilization and culture of humans is the
result of social process only. This is also true that after development of work and knowledge organs,
he independently observes, examines, meditates and concentrates and learns thus. But for this,
required work and knowledge organs, language and thought processes are developed in the social
environment only. In the absence, neither we can learn language nor can we learn to think. Children
learn about objects, language and activities by being in society only. Sociologists have clarifi ed that
education is the means of fulfillment of social goals and objectives. Society has the ambitions and

education of same nature, the way it is built up. In fact, education is related with past, present and

future, all three. With this, knowledge of past, fulfillment of present and future building is done.
Education is social process from this perspective also.

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