Pragmatism and teachers role Essay

naturalism is an American philosophy from the early 20th century. According to naturalism, the truth or meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable matter-of-fact consequences rather than anything metaphysical. It can be summarized by the phrase some(prenominal) works, is likely true. Because existentity changes, whatever works will alike change thus, truth must also be changeable and no wiz can claim to possess any final or ultimate truth. C.S. Peirce on realityC.S. Peirce, who coined the term Pragmatism, saw it as more(prenominal) a technique to admirer us find solutions than a philosophy or solution to problems. Peirce used it as a direction for developing linguistic and conceptual clarity (and thereby facilitate communication) with intellectual problems. He wrote Consider what effects, which index conceivably have practical bearings, we conceive the object of our conception to have. Then our conception of these effects is the squ atomic number 18 of ou r conception of the object. William James on PragmatismWilliam James is the most famous philosopher of Pragmatism and hes the one who made Pragmatism itself famous. For James, Pragmatism was about value and morality the purpose of philosophy was to view what had value to us and why. James argued that ideas and beliefs have value to us only when they work. James wrote on PragmatismIdeas become true just so far as they help us to get into all(a) right relations with other parts of our experience. John Dewey on PragmatismIn a philosophy he called Instrumentalism, John Dewey attempted to combine both Perices and James philosophies of Pragmatism. It was thus both about crystal clear concepts as well as ethical analysis. Instrumentalism describes Deweys ideas the conditions under which reasoning and inquiry occurs. On the one hand it should be controlled by logical constraints on the other hand it is directed at producing goods and treasured satisfactions.What is the Role of a Teacher According to Pragmatism?According to pragmatism teacher is a friend, learn and philosopher to the kidskin. He must educate the kidskin in social environment so that he whitethorn attain social efficiency. There must be positive relationship between teacher and taught. His deportment towards boorren must be sympathetic. His attitude should be democratic and child must have academic freedom. His knead is to suggest problems to his pupils and to stimulate them to find for themselves solutions which will work. His emphasis is not on the knowledge as arrange and systematized in the text-books. He wants the children to do one experiment or to have a particular experience. Doing is more principal(prenominal) than knowing. Like Socrates the Pragmatist teacher wants his pupils to think and act for them, to do rather than to know, to originate rather than to repeat. Pragmatism and SchoolJohn Dewey maintains that school is a Miniature Society here a child gets real experiences to act and behave gibe to his interests, aptitudes and capacities. Pragmatists regard school as a social institution where the child gains real experiences of actual life which develop in him social sense and a sense of job towards society and the nation. Group games, working in laboratories and studying in libraries with others are the various activities and experiences which inculcate in children social qualities, social attitudes together with a smelling of mutual help and cooperative activities. In this way, according to Pragmatism the school is not a centre of education alone but it is also a community centre of various activities and experiences. Contribution of Pragmatism in EducationAimsIt lays more stress on social and vocational efficiency.TeacherIt gives important place to teacher.StudentIt stresses on child-centered education.Teaching Method parvenue teaching methods are the contribution of pragmatism.CurriculumIt lays more stress on experience and study by doing.Evaluation of PragmatismOpposition of Pre-determined IdeasPragmatism opposes pre-determined ideals and determine. They are man-made and change according to the changes in circumstances, meter and place. Opposition of Eternal TruthPragmatism does not have any faith in perennial truth. Pragmatists believe that if the result of an activity is satisfactory then it is true otherwise not. No Fix system of Education. Pragmatism provides academic freedom to every institution which leads them nowhere. Pragmatism gives no fixed ideal to education. much(prenominal) an education is bound to be fruitless. Emphasis on Material and Negation of Spiritual ValuesThere is no room for spiritual values in pragmatism. It gives more Weight age to material values. Without spiritual values, we cannot earn happiness, contentment and peace of mind and can go astray. Laxity in DisciplinePragmatism allows practiced freedom to the child who is not proper at the school stage and it leads to serious chaos and confusi on. disapproval of Formal EducationPragmatism advocates that all knowledge should be acquired through direct personal experiences. exactly knowledge is so vast and the span of life so short, that it is quite impossible to receive all knowledge through direct experiences. Hence acquiring all knowledge needs personal experiences and chunk education both. Negation of the PastPragmatism gives undue importance to the present. It ignores both past and approaching. The study of past is important to understand the present. Also there is need to link the present with future. Pragmatism is a Method Only. Pragmatism is not a philosophy of life but only a method of education, growth and development. In the words of William James There is absolutely nothing new in the pragmatic method. It is just existential attitude. It has no dogmas and no doctrines save its methods. Pragmatism believes in Pluralism which is not proper. Merits of Pragmatism task MethodProject method is a gift of pragmati sm. Through this method child attains knowledge by solving his practical problems. He performs the problematic acts in natural conditions. This method lays emphasis on learning through experiences. immensity of ChildOpposing bookish knowledge and formal education, pragmatism lays great stress upon the development of childs individuality by his own efforts. This makes education child- centre. Emphasis on ActivityThe principle of learning by doing is the main contribution of pragmatism. Children are active by nature. It emphasizes on the activity of the child. It prepares the child for future life in a very effective manner. Revolutionized the Process of EducationThis philosophy has infused life and spice in contribution. The concepts of New Education, liberalist Education and Activity-centre curriculum which have changed the education outlook are the contribution of pragmatism. Social and Democratic EducationPragmatism infuses in a child a spirit of freedom, initiative, equality a nd also a sense of responsibility in relation to rights and duties of a citizen. This develops in the child love for democratic values and social efficiency which bring harmonious adjustment and development of personality. Progressive AttitudePragmatism emphasizes the qualities of freedom initiative expression, experiences congenial, environment, purposeful creativity and development of human values for the wellbeing of whole mankind. In the words of RuskIt is merely a stage in the development of a new Idealism that will do full justice to reality, reconcile the practical and spiritual values and result in a culture which is the flower of efficiency. Pragmatism is an attitude and a way of nutrition which, opposing the old doctrines of Idealism and Naturalism inspires the individual to look ahead and creates new values for an inexplicable future so that he leads a better, happier and a richer life.