Chapter 5 - Schools of Philosophy

Question- What is Realism? How has it influenced the currents of education? Evaluate its impact on Indian Education.

Answer -

Realism emerged as a movement in philosophy against the extreme idealist world view of the Ninetieth century philosophers. Idealists are well known for their belief in the temporality of the world and their faith in the essence behind it. Although they set high goals for the achievers but some of them went far beyond to disbelieve in the existence of the world itself. Berkeley proclaimed, "To be, is to be perceived." Moreover, the Idealists perception explained the world as subjective reality. It ignored the phenomenal realities and often increases escapist behaviour. In reaction to this realism emerges as a new philosophic doctrine.

Concept and Chief Exponents

Traced back to history Aristotle was interested himself in particular facts of life as against Plato who was more a philosopher of abstractions and generalizations. Saint Thomas Aquinas influenced the realist spirit in religion. Commenius in his ‘Great Didactic’ wrote that mind is only a passive recipient reflecting all things ground it as a spherical mirror. John Lock put in more vehemently when he said that “the mind is a tabula rasa” (clean state) and reality is outside thr mind. After these philosophers and thinkers philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Erasmus, John Frederic, John Milton, Lord Montaigne, Francis Bacon, Whitehead, Bertrand Russell and William James affirmed that external world is a real World.

Progress of Realism

Realist movement was received vigorously in the twentieth century when 6 American Professors led by Barton Perry published a book in 1912 titled as ‘The New Realism’. Another group was formed in 1916; members of this group styled themselves as critical realists and published a book in 1920 titled as Essays in ‘Critical Realism’. Arthur Lovenjoy, Johns Hopkins and George Santayana were among the members of this group.

Definitions

According to Butler, “Realism is the reinforcement of our common acceptance of this world as it appears to us.”

According to C.V. Good, “Realism is the doctrine (that upholds) that objective reality or the material universe exists independently of the conscious mind, its nature and properties are being affected by being known.”

According to J.S. Ross, “The doctrine of realism asserts that there is a real world of things behind and corresponding to the objects of our perception.”

Basic Principles of Realism

The basic principle of realism is, the world around us is a reality and a world of objects not ideas. It is a pluralistic world—a world of materials, a world of ideas and a world of experiences. As John Lock affirmed, “The world around is a real world and not a world of fantasy.” Other principles of realism are as under:

1. The real world has an order, design and mechanism. On the basis of these one can study the structure and functions of the phenomenal world.
2. Mind is a brain function only. To know the reality mind should be trained.
3. The realities of the world are sequential and depend upon each other under cause and effect.
4. Senses are the doorways to realize the phenomenal world.
5. Experimental or scientific method is most appropriate to acquire outside knowledge. Alfred North, Whitehead and Bertrand Russell advocate the exclusive use of this method.

Realism in Education

Realism has great bearing on education. Realism affected education in a big way with regard to source, extent, and nature of knowledge. Its presence and need is observed in every part of education. In education, realism is a cultural necessity. John Lock in his pioneer work ‘On Education’, while describing the need of realism about the education of a ‘Gentleman’ said that the practice of realism is necessary as the trained individual mind according to the need of the society. The influences of realism on different segments of education are as under:

Aims of Education: Dr. Broudy said in ‘Good Life’, “The task of the school is to transcribe the good life, the good individual, and the good society into learning that presumably will contribute to the production.” The realism helps in achieving such realistic aims of education.

Realism and Pupil: Realism believes in present and therefore it is concerned with the immediate problems of the pupils. It also promotes the general welfare and good of the pupils without any discrimination. It stresses upon the multidimensional development of the pupil’s body, mind, and soul.

Realism and Curriculum: The curriculum is mainly used for forming desirable habits. For that, realism advocates ‘study by doing’ and opposes the bookish knowledge. In this sense, the realist slogan is Do not tell, show and help to participate.

Realism and Methods of Teaching

Realism dictum is knowledge is through senses, hence, maximum use of senses should be made. In realism, Socratic Method of teaching is advocated as the best. In modern age useful realistic teaching methods are—Lecture, discussion, and symposia.

Realism and Teacher

The realistic view advocates to follow the mid-way path i.e., neither pessimist nor optimist. It also helps to shed all biased. It marks the quality of a teacher as scholar, high character, integrity and democratic nature.

Impact of Realism on Indian Education

Realism is a balanced philosophic base in education. It is like a bird flying high with two wings and both are similar in shape, weight, and power. It aims to achieve optimum development of child as well as of society. To be progressive and growth-oriented, modern Indian education, like education in many other nations of the world, is highly influenced by realism. The impact of realism on Indian education is as follows:

1. Rationalization of Aims: Under the impact of realism, the aims of Indian education became more real and rational. Now Indian education is not a means to attain ‘self-realization’ but a means to achieve a suitable vocation.

2. Secular Curriculum: The curriculum of every class and level throughout the nation became secular under the influence of realism. The secular curriculum means not employing special religious traits to benefit this particular religion. The secular curriculum makes education more acceptable to masses.

3. Use of Democratic Methods: In contemporary Indian education, students are not passive receivers of teachers' words, but they participate through seminars, debates, and presentations, etc. This democratization in the use of educational methods has happened due to the impact of realism.

4. Welfare Educational Planning: Concern for disadvantaged children, women's education, and education for other deprived classes or communities are some of the target groups for which Indian planners are working hard; this also happens as a realization of educational realism at the apex level.

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