PRAGMATISM
IN EDUCATION
JOHN DEWEY, WILLIAM JAMES & C.S. PEIRCE
Presenter: SUZANNE M. PADERNA
PRAGMATISM
Pragmatism is an American philosophy from
the early 20th century.
According to Pragmatism, the truth or
meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its
observable practical consequences rather
than anything metaphysical.
It can be summarized by the phrase
“whatever works, is likely true.” Because
reality changes, “whatever works” will also
change — thus, truth must also be
changeable and no one can claim to possess
any final or ultimate truth.
PROPONENTS
Charles Sanders Peirce
(1839-1914)
◦ Coined the term
Pragmatism
◦ Gk. “pragmatikos” means
practical
◦ He saw it as more a
technique to help us find
solutions than a philosophy
or solution to problems.
PROPONENTS
William James (1842-1910)
◦ “Idea must have practical
and satisfactory results”
◦ “Pragmatism is a method
of solving or evaluating
intellectual problems and
a theory about the kinds
of knowledge we are
capable of acquiring.
PROPONENTS
John Dewey (1859-1952)
◦ Concept of experience
and thinking
◦ “Experience is not an
object known but an
ACTION PERFORMED.
PROPONENTS
John Dewey
◦ Thinking arises as a means of dealing
with these disturbing situations by
working out hypotheses, or guides to
future instructions.
◦ Believes that if the student learned how
to solve, presumably, he would be better
fit for living in our ever-changing world
with its manifold perplexities.
PRAGMATISM
Generic Notions
◦ Pragmatism is the philosophy that
encourages people to find processes that
work in order to achieve their desired
ends.
◦ Reality is that everything changes.
(Theme: the world is constantly
changing and we have to adapt)
PRAGMATISM
They study the past but they are generally more
interested in contemporary issues and in
discovering solutions to problems in present-day
terms.
They are action-oriented, experientially
grounded, and will generally pose questions such
as:
“ What will work to achieve my desired ends?”
problem speculative thought action results
then Question: “Do the results achieved
solve the problem?” Then solution is valid.
PRAGMATISM
AS APPLIED IN EDUCATION
PRAGMATISM AND EDUCATIVE
PROCESS
“Education is living through a continuous
reconstruction of experiences. It is the
development of all those capacities in the
individual which will enable him to control
his emotion and fulfil his possibilities.”
- John Dewey
PRAGMATISM IS A PRACTICAL
PHILOSOPHY
It aims at developing efficiency of the
pupil through activities and experience.
Education should enable the child to solve
his daily problems and lead a better life.
It is a work philosophy.
Activities lie at the center of all educative
process.
EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL
INSTITUTION
John Dewey came to Chicago in 1894 with
his wife Alice Dewey, to start a school in
order to test his theories of learning.
He believed that learning was active and
children came to school to do things.
That learning arithmetic would come from
learning proportions in cooking or figuring
out how long it would take to get from
one place to another by rule.
AIMS OF EDUCATION
Does not believe in setting predetermined
fixed, ultimate and general aims of
education.
The only aim is more and more growth and
creation of new values. One can create
values through activities and experience.
Aims of education given by John Dewey in his
‘Democracy and education’ :
--Natural development.
--Development of social efficiency.
THE SCHOOL
Any social environment which inspires
children for experimentation constitutes a
school for them.
A social institution which develops in child a
social sense and sense of duty towards
society and nation.
According to John Dewey :
“School is the embryo of community.”
“School is a miniature society.”
“An instrument of transmission and
transformation of the culture.”
PRAGMATISM AND CURRICULUM
Pragmatic curriculum is framed according to the
following principles:
1. Principles of dynamism and flexibility.
2. Principle of utility – subjects like language,
literature, physical education, hygiene, history,
geography, civics, sociology, psychology etc.
Priority is given to social sciences to make the
students good, cooperative and useful citizens.
Natural sciences come next.
3. Principle of activity and experience, agriculture,
wood craft and industrial sciences.
4. Principles of integration.
THE TEACHER
As a friend, philosopher and guide.
Not a dictator but only a leader of a group.
Should have knowledge of student’s interest
and provide them social environment.
Should believe in democratic values.
Should have knowledge of social
conditioning.
Should not overshadow the personality of the
pupil.
METHODS OF TEACHING
Against out dated, lifeless and rigidly traditional
methods of teaching.
Methods to be formulated on the basis of
following principles :
Principles of purposive process of learning.
Principle of learning by doing.
Principle of integration.
Project method
Experimental method.
It also encourages:
Discussion as a method-laboratory work.
Personal reference in the library.
Educational tows and excursions.
CONTRIBUTION OF PRAGMATISM
TO EDUCATION
Contributes to the development of a system
which is vocation centered.
Recognizes that an individual should be socially
efficient and productive, the curriculum duly
takes note of it.
Another important principal given by pragmatism
is the principle of integration.
Project method.
Helps to realize the value of today’s life.
Saves child from the burden of education which
is too much centered on books.
CONCLUSION
Pragmatism is characteristic of current
educational thought and it is representative of
progressive trends in education.
Progressive education lays emphasis on learning
by doing, and involving the child actively in the
learning process.
Too much restrain will retard the natural growth
of children. The child must be given educative
freedom to express and develop himself.
In the knowledge gaining process, observation
and experimentation are the basic tools and
knowledge is of the nature of a hypothesis.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
