Definition of Philosophy of education

As in the right or in science, there is also a discipline which deals with reflection on the idea of education. This discipline is the philosophy of Education. In general lines, it carries out a reflection on the aims of education.

The problem of the aims of education

A pedagogue focuses on the formative issues of teaching and for this he raises what should be the methodology correct in the different educational stages. A teacher of a specific subject teaches that subject to some students based on pedagogical approaches. And a philosopher of education reflects on the key concepts and problems related to education, such as the objectives that should guide the course of teaching, the role of education in society as a whole, who should assume the responsibility of education, etc.

Different philosophical approaches to education

Some philosophers maintain that education has to be based on the freedom and spontaneity of the individual and, therefore, it is not necessary to force the learning of a series of knowledge. This vision is inspired by an ideal of individual freedom

According to other versions, it is necessary to guide the educational process of individuals so that they can assimilate the cultural tradition of their community. This vision is based on the responsibility of the state over individuals.

For centuries, philosophical reflection on education has focused on the training of children and young people. However, in recent decades adults have not been excluded and for this reason the term permanent education has been coined.

Philosophy is love of wisdom and Education is the process by which we learn a series of skills and abilities for life

Based on these two definitions, we can ask ourselves two fundamental questions: what type of training leads to authentic knowledge? How should we educate? The answers to these questions are the essence of the philosophy of education.

In the educational plans there is some subject of philosophy, such as ethics, history of philosophy and others

On the one hand, it is one more subject, with its exams, teachers and programs. However, it is a special subject, since its foundation is not to know a specific content or a skill (as the geography, the story or the He drew), but its purpose is to ask questions to take the first step towards true knowledge.

Education itself constitutes a philosophical problem, therefore, the greatest philosophers of all time, since the most remote antiquity, they have dealt both with raising the issue of education and with its approach in the most different situations and levels.

Although the content of education turns out to be very complex and varies greatly from one culture to another, the he himself finds unity precisely in man, because of all the animals, man is the only one capable of being educated. If a human being is not educated, he would only have a physical appearance as a human being, inasmuch as, what distinguishes him of the animal, which are the techniques, the language and the customs, man has learned from the teachings received.

So, it is precisely this bond that is established with humanity that makes education more than just training or maturing.

The primary task that the philosopher of education will assume will be to wonder about the purposes of education, prevailing the why of any aspect or circumstance.