Pragmatism
Shantiram Dahal
Of Pragmatism
Pragmatism
• The word pragmatism is derived from Greek word pragma that means activity or work done.
• pragmatists believes in change.
• It is the philosophy of practical experience.
• According to William James pragmatism is a temper of mind an attitude.
• It is also a theory of nature and theory about reality.
• john Dewey is considered as father of pragmatism.
Realism vs pragmatism
BASIC PRINCIPLES
• Gives importance to action.
• Gives importance to experience.
• Believes in change.
• No belief in permanent values.
• Gives emphasis on experimentation.
• A practical philosophy.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
• A humanistic philosophy.
• Pragmatists believe on present.
• Believe that growth and development takes place through interaction and
environment.
• Deep faith in democracy.
• Emphasis on means not on 'end'.
METAPHYSICS
• Rejects metaphysics as an area of philosophical enquiry.
• Reality is determined by individual's sense experience - Man can know nothing beyond his
experience.
• Any conclusion we make about life after death is merely guess.
• Does not believe in anything spiritual or transcendental values.
• Reality is constantly changing.
Forms of pragmatism
humanistic
Experimental
Biological
• Biological Pragmatism: According to this the capacity of a human being is valuable
and important which enables him to adjust with the environment or makes him able
to change his environment according to his needs and requirements.
• Humanistic Pragmatism: According to this 'whatever fulfils one's purpose, satisfies
one's desire, develops one's life, and is true'. It maintains what satisfies the human
nature is only true and real.
• Experimental Pragmatism: According to this can be experimentally verified is
true. The principle is true which can be verified as true by experiment.
RAGMATISM 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 and Aims of Education
• To create new values:
• The Pragmatists do not believe in the theory of any fixed aim of education. In their opinion, the
aim of education is to create new values and the act of teacher is to help himself develop new
values.
• To enable pupils to gather experience through activity:
• For the creation of new values, activity and experience are essential. Education should therefore,
provide physical, intellectual, moral and aesthetic activities as the media for the creation of new
values.
Pragmatism and Aims of Education
• To help the pupil to reconstruct his experience: Every individual has to solve
different types of complex problems in his life. So the another important aim of
education, according to Pragmatism is to enable the pupil to form such an outlook
about life as can help to tackle successfully the different problems of his life in future,
• To make all round development of the pupil: All round development of the
individual is also an important aim of education. The individual develops physically,
mentally, socially and aesthetically.
Pragmatism and Aims of Education
• To help the pupil to adjust with him and the society: The other important aim
of education according to pragmatism is to help the pupil to make adjustment
with himself and the society.
PRAGMATISM AND CURRICULUM
• Pragmatic curriculum is framed according to the following principles:
• Principles of dynamism and flexibility.
• 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.
• Principle of activity and experience, agriculture, wood craft and industrial sciences.
• Principles of integration.
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.
Teaching method of pragmatism
• * Project method by kilpatric.
• Experimental method.
• It also encourages: Discussion as a method-laboratory work.
• Personal reference in the library.
• Educational tour and excursions.
TEACHER
• 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.
DISCIPLINE
• Freedom as an important element.
• Promotes self discipline.
• Condemn enforced discipline and advocate social discipline based on child's interest,
activities and a sense of social responsibility.
• According to pragmatists, "Discipline is primarily social and it emerges through
active participation in group and purposeful activity."
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."
CONTRIBUTION OF PRAGMATISM TO
EDUCATION
• Contributes to the development of a system which is vocation centred.
• 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 centred on books.
