Naturalism2

NaturalismPerspective of Philosophy of Education (Western Schools)
Lera Mae G. Latras
Reporter

What is Naturalism?
 Naturalism is a concept that firmly believes that
ultimate reality lies in the nature of matter.
(Maheshwari,2011)
Made up
supreme

What is Naturalism?
 The whole universe is governed by laws of nature
and they are changeable.
Exploration studying

What is Naturalism?
 An educational theory that is applied to systems of
training that are not dependent on schools and
books but on the manipulation of the actual life of
the educand.

Definition of Naturalism
 Naturalism is opposed to idealism, subordinates
mind to matter and holds that ultimate reality is
material world, not spiritual world.
 Naturalism is a doctrine which separates nature
from God, subordinates spirit to matter and sets up
unchangeable lows as supreme.
 Naturalism is philosophical position adopted by
those who approach philosophy form purely
scientific point of view.

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
 One of the famous nature
philosopher on the 18th
century
 published his famous book
“Emile” which contained
Rousseau’s ideas on
naturalism.

 Emily which means boy in
French, focuses on the
private education of the
boy.
 According to him, Nature is
the best teacher and
means of education.

 Rousseau considered
world as an artificial,
autocratic, egotistic and
arrogant place and
Rousseau believed that
education should be given
according to the natural
interest of the child aiming
at a holistic development
of the personality .

Theoretical Rationale of
Naturalism
“Naturalism is the doctrine which separates nature from God,
subordinates spirit to matter and sets up unchangeable laws
as supreme”

Metaphysical Position
Concept of God The Concept of
Self
 The human self is seen
by naturalism as an
offshoot of Nature,
and not as springing
from beyond Nature
 Man is the child of
Nature
 Naturalist God is within Nature

Epistemological Position
of Naturalism
observation
accumulation
generalization
Scientific knowledge:
Empirical and experimental knowledge
Sensory training

The Logic of Naturalism
• Simple induction
o Involves careful observation of Nature, accurate description of
what is observed, and caution in formulating generalization

Axiological Position of
Naturalism
• Naturalism believes that:
o nature is versatile.
o Instincts
o Drives
o Impulses
o There is no absolute good or evil in the world. Values of life are created
through human needs.
Need to be expressed rather
than repressed

Values
1. Ethical Value
2. Aesthetic Value
3. Religious Value
4. Social Value

Naturalism in Education
“We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need
aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that
we need when we come to man’s estate, is the gift
education”-Jean Jacques Rousseau

 Naturalism as a philosophy was developed in the
18th century.
 Based on the assumption that nature represents the
wholeness of reality
 Education must conform to the natural processes of
growth and mental development
 Education should be pleasurable.

 Education should be pleasurable
 Education should engage the spontaneous self-
activity of the child.

Aims and objectives of
Education
“Complete living” is the general aim. This impression
borne out by the following objectives:
1. Self Expression
2. To prepare Man for the struggle
3. To enable him to adjust himself with his
environment
4. Natural Development

5. Development of Culture
6. To perfect human machine
7. Attainment of present and Future happiness
8. Autonomous development of personality
9. Redirection of human instincts
10.Proper utilization of leisure time

The Concept of Teacher
“Teacher in a naturalistic set up is only a setter of the stage, a
supplier of materials and opportunities, a provider of an ideal
environment, a creator of conditions under which natural
development takes place.”-Ross

The Concept of Teacher
1. Teacher as a Guide
2. Teacher as a Observes
3. Teacher as a protectors
4. Teacher as an Organize

The Concept of Student
“Everything is good as it comes from the hands of the author
of nature. Man meddles with them and they become evil”-
Rousseau

 The pupil is to the teacher what man is to the philosopher
 Know the child and you will know what to teaches
 Naturalist advised to include the following in the curriculum
Science
 help children
acquainted with
nature
Mathematics and language
 Help acquire the
subject of science
History and Social Science
 Help realize the
importance of those in
their present life
Agriculture and Carpentry
 Help them act in freedom
 Will increase their power of
observation
Drawing
 Considered as the main
technique of self expression
Physical Education and
Health Training
 For self protection

Methodology of
Instruction
1. Learning by Doing
2. Learning by playing
3. Learning by direct experience
4. Activity Method
5. Freedom in the child
6. Negative Method

Concept of Discipline
Punishment should be constituted by natural consequences
of wrong deeds; should be certain, but tempered with
sympathy.

Concept of Discipline
 Aims at making education free from the bondage
of rigid discipline under which children were
tortured.
 Naturalism advocates maximum freedom from the
child and the freedom of the child disciplines him
and he is naturally controlled by his own learning
and experiences

Women Education
 A girl cannot be educated to be a man
 According to Rousseau, “ a woman should be the
centre of the family, a housewife, and a mother.
She should strive to please her husband, concern
herself more than he with having a good
reputation, and be satisfied with a simple religion of
the emotions.”

Agencies of Education
1. Home
 Rousseau recognize only the home.
 The foundations of good physical and mental health are laid during
infancy.
 If the child is spoiled by faulty home training during these formative
years, this tutor will have a great difficulty in correcting the errors
2. Church
3. School

Limitations of Naturalism in Education
1. Aims of Ideals of education are not exalting
2. Emphasis on present
3. Less emphases on books
4. All the emphases is given to scientific subjects
5. Unlimited Freedom given to the child
6. Unappealing principle of discipline by Natural
Consequences
7. Teacher only in the background
8. Ignorance of society.

“From the solemn gloom
Of the temple children
Run out to sit in the dust,
God watches them play
and forgets the priest”
-Rabindranath Tagore

Naturalism2

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