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Introduction to Idealism

The oldest system of Philosophy known Toman is said to be idealism whose origin goes back to ancient India in the east and to Plato in the west.[1]
Idealism as a school of philosophy believes in mind and idolizes it. This philosophy seeks to explain and interpret man and universe in terms of spirit or mind.[1]
It gives its priority to spirit, which is real and as such the entire universe is the extension of the mind or spirit. Idealism shifts its emphasis from the scientific facts of life to the spiritual aspects of human experiences and activities.[1]
It asserts that material world is not the manifestation of reality. It, therefore, attaches supreme importance to the study of man and his mind. Besides, this school of philosophy places emphasis on the ideas and ideals than the full fact of matter which guides the actions of men in the every aspect.[1]
Chief exponents of this school of philosophy are Plato, Descartes, Berkeley, Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Schelling, Schophenhawer, Spinoza, Gentile, Froebal, Swami DayanandSaraswati, and R.N. Tagore.[1]

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Bases of Idealism:

I. Metaphysics or Axiom of Reality:
Idealism believes in mind which is the reality. It goes against the material aspect of human activities, or material aspect is an anti-thesis to the ideal or spiritual, which is destructible in nature. Reality does not lie in it. The ideas or ideals, on the contrary, are external and unchangeable which give form to cosmos. As such, mind is attached a supreme significance by the idealists than the matter.[1]
They illustrate it as “if Newton and Einstein gave us Physics and Shakespeare the best dramas, they were not results of reactions to a physical stimulus but they were the characteristic creations of mind”. The idealists have ideolised the mind beyond everything and advocated the evolution of mind which enables a man to know the truth, goodness and beauty-three cardinal and eternal values of life.[1]
Knowledge through activity of mind, rather than through the senses, is the first article of faith in idealism. For idealists, all knowledge is independent of sense experience, the act of knowing takes place within the chamber of mind.
Idealists believe in the universal mind which is above the human mind and is the source of all human values and goal of all human activities is the realization of this universal mind. Man is conceived as a microcosm within macrocosm. Therefore, spiritual mind is a part of the universal mind.

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II. Epistemology:

According to idealists, the real knowledge is the knowledge of self or spirit. Self-realization IS the aim of all activities. Idealism believes in the spiritual nature of man, by virtue of which, man is essentially distinguished from other lower creatures of the universe. But man’s spiritual nature is not something that has been extraneously added to him. It is the very essence of his bring.[1]

This spiritual nature finds its expression in art, culture, morality and religion. Thus in an ultimate analysis, mind or spirit is the essential aspect of this philosophy. Knowledge gleaned through activity of mind is more important than the knowledge received through five sense organs of men.[1]

The ‘Mind’ is active and as such the gateway of knowledge. The highest knowledge is t knowledge of spiritual reality i.e. Brahma Gyan or knowledge of self.[1]

III. Axiology:

Idealism attaches importance to the higher values of life which are eternal and perennial stand absolute, universal and indestructible Men cannot create these values and they have to over and realize them in their day-to-day lives. [1]

These values are summum bonum of life which represents Satyam (truth), Shivam (goodness), and Sundram (beauty). These values are purely spiritual in nature in their entirety. Truth represents intellectual side.[1]

Goodness moral side and acuity, the aesthetic side of these eternal values which are identical to each other. Beauty is Truth is Beauty; all are embedded which we need to know, for these higher values were true yesterday, are true today and will be true tomorrow. These values are absolute & infallible in nature which sublimes the life in a glorified and magnificent manner.[1]

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The fundamental principles of idealism are:�

1. Spirit and mind constitute reality, not body and matter.[1]
2. Spiritual man is the supreme creation of God and he must strive for self-realization.[1]
3. God is the source of all knowledge.[1]
4. Values are absolute and unchanging and are so called spiritual values: truth, goodness & beauty.[1]
5. What is ultimately real is not the object itself but the idea behind it.[1]
6. Man is not the architect of values.[1]
7. Freedom of mind is the highest virtue: a necessity of realizing spiritual reality.[1]
8. Spirit or ideal constitutes the pillar of this philosophy.[1]
9. Two forms of the whole world
10.Ideas more important than object
11.Full support to the principle of Unity in Diversity

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Main Features of Idealism:�

Spiritual being
Mental being
Visual World
Self-realization
Salvation

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Types of Idealism

(a) ABSOLUTE IDEALISM

It is the one type which has found its way into educational philosophy. This lays down that the heart of reality is to be found in thought or reason. Reason is absolute; in fact it is the absolute. Being absolute, it is also one i.e., monistic. Everything, thus, is interrelated and all contradictions reconciled. Furthermore the complete cause of any single occurrence involves the whole of reality. The cosmos is great thought process, and the absolute is god thinking. Everything happens as a result of the self-willed idea i. e. absolute. The absolute is already complete, and self-realized. Nature is the medium through which the absolute progressively reveals itself in external form. Mind of man however, is a part of the absolute whole. The absolute being the whole and education being a part thereof, it may be that study of the fragment may reveal important facts of the totality.[2]

The centralistic approach to idealism on the whole has committed this educational philosophy to the prominent importance of consciousness. Mind is ultimately spiritual, not materialistic. Human nature is to be viewed, as more than a behaving organism, responding to the stimuli of its environment. Man is too atomistic. Idealism stresses certain wholeness. Nothing happens in any part of the system that does not affect the rest.[2]

Cont…

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On religious and moral education, the definition of the absolute is unmistakably of theistic characteristics. Since the aim of education is the increasing realization of the absolute, all education appears tinged with religious significance. This includes moral education. Reason being the absolute, the universe is one of law and order. So too there is a oral law in the universe backed by the authority of the absolute. Thus lays an inescapable moral imperative on education.[2]

(b) MODERN IDEALISM

It has given a different tune to educational philosophy. In this concept idealism more to do this idea as metal state. n this idealism might be called a philosophy of idealism. The `I` of idealism being interested for euphony. The knowledge one has of his environment is idea of it. The environment in itself cannot be known through intermediate idea of it. The environments in itself cannot be known directly. It can only be known through intermediate idea of human knower. From which the learner’s knowledge takes, therefore, is bound to be in part the product of his human way of apprehending it. Such concepts are supplied by the mind of human learning.[2]

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Main Tenets of Idealism Philosophy in Education

IDEALISM AND AIMS OF EDUCATION

(1) SELF REALIZATION.

According to idealism man is the most beautiful creation of god-His grandest work. It lays great stress on the exaltation of human personality it is self-realization The aim of education is to develop the self of the individuals higher till self-realization is achieved It is in fact making actual or real the highest potentialities of the self.[2]

(2) UNIVERSAL EDUCATION

Education according to idealism should be universal in nature. The universe is regarded as a thought process. Education should be based on the teaching of Universal truth from the stand-point of rationality of the Universe[2]

(3) SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.

Idealists give greater importance to spiritual values in comparison with material attainments. According to Rusk, “Education must enable Mankind through its culture to enter more and more fully into the spiritual realm, and also enter more and more fully into the spiritual realm, and also enlarge the boundaries of spiritual realm”.[2]

(4)TRANSMISSION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

The aim of idealistic education is the preservation ; enrichment and transmission of culture, Education must contribute to the development of culture .It should help in enlarging the boundaries of spiritual realm[2]

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(5)CULTIVATION OF MORAL VALUES

According to idealism, man is essentially a moral being. Therefore, moral, intellectual and aesthetic aspects of his personality should be promoted. According to Dr.Prem Nath “The process of education must lead to the deepest spiritual insight and to the highest moral and spiritual insight and to the highest moral and spiritual insight and to the highest moral and spiritual conduct .”[2]

(6) PREPARATION FOR A HOLY LIFE

Idealism prepares an individual for a holy life. Froebel says.”The object of education is the realization of a faithful, pure, inviolable and hence holy life.’’[2]

(7) DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE AND RATIONALITY

Idealism wishes that education should develop the mind fully. It makes a person rational as well. Only the highly developed mind can understand the all pervading force. The idealists believe that education must help in the full evolution of mind , the emancipation of spirit, self realization and the realization of higher values of life and to train the whole man completely and fully for manhood and not some part of man.[2]

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Idealism and curriculum�

While developing curriculum, idealists give more importance to thought, feelings, ideals and values than to the child and his activities. They firmly hold that curriculum should be concerned with the whole humanity and its experiences. It must consist of humanities.[2]
The curriculum should give good mental experience of all types. [2]
So cognition (knowing) affecting (feeling) and conation (striving) should find due place. Sciences and art should be taught as fully integrated. Since the main aim of education according to the philosophy of idealism is to preserve and advance the culture of human race ,so subjects like Religion, Ethics, philosophy, History, Literature etc, should be provided in the curriculum. Healthy mind is found in healthy baby only. So health, hygiene, games and sports should find an important place in the curriculum.[2]

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Idealism and methods of teaching�

Idealism has not prescribed specific methods of teaching. According to idealism, class-room is a temple of spiritual learning, a meeting place of human minds- a place for self education. For this no particular method has been suggested. However, the following methods have been advocated by different idealists:[2]

Learning through reading
Learning through lecturing
Learning through discussion
Learning through imitation
Descrates employed the device of simple to complex[2]

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Idealism and discipline�

Naturalism provides unrestricted freedom to the child whereas Idealism wants to keep the child under discipline. Idealists believe that there can be no spiritual development of the child without discipline. This leads to inner discipline. “The discipline is not to be imposed on pupils. The teacher has only to help them to develop self discipline and through that self knowledge”

Self-insight and self analysis are the main disciplinary factors. The main task of education is the cultivation of higher values of life through moral and religious education. It requires the teacher to present a good example and exercise lasting impact upon the pupil’s mind. A teacher is an ideal person to be emulated by this pupil.

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Idealism and teacher�

Idealism assigns a special role to the teacher. It considers teacher as a spiritual guide for the child. The teacher serves as a living model for the student. He sets the environment in which education takes place. He carries the child from darkness to light. He is to guide the student towards utmost possible perfection.[2]

Idealism regards the teacher as the priest of man’s spiritual heritage. He is a co-worker with God in perfecting man. An idealist teacher is a philosopher, friend and guide. According to Gentle- A teacher is “a spiritual symbol of right conduct.” He is thus, an indispensable necessity.[2]

According to Froebel, the school is a garden, the teacher is a cautious gardener and the child is a tender plant. The plant can grow, no doubt, without help but the good gardener sees that the plant grows to the finest possible perfection. Through teacher’s guidance the child can make his natural development into a process leading to perfection and beauty.[2]

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Discipline:�

As freedom is the key note of naturalists, discipline is the cry of idealists. Idealists are not in favour of free discipline but inner or self-discipline for attainment of spiritual perfection. Free discipline, further, may lead the child astray and wayward.[1]

They feel that strict discipline is essential or self-realization but it should not be imposed from outside. Further, idealists are in support of ranting freedom to the child but in a restraint and guided way.[1]

It should be regulated, guided and restrained freedom. It implies responsibility. It does not mean waywardness. Teacher has to create a congenial atmosphere by his ideals and examples for the realization of higher values of life by the child. Self- discipline, as such, is essential for realization of spiritual values.[1]

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Criticisms of Idealism:�

The critics of idealism offer a bag of criticisms against it, some of which may be listed below:
1. Critics have leveled their charges that although idealism provides lofty aims, it lags behind in educational method-the means to achieve aims and objectives.[1]
2. Concepts like ideals, mind, spirit, the cosmos of idealism have little relevance in classroom teaching.[1]
3. Idealistic concept of absolute or ultimate truth is controversial which cannot be easily attained.[1]
4. It is more individualistic; negating the social aspects of society and laws.[1]
5. It underrates, not altogether, the study of science and technology, which is essential for the progress of civilization and nation.[1]
6. It is not in keeping with the psychological nature of the child who is inclined to activity than to contemplation of spiritual things.[1]
7. It is inimical to experimental method. It pulls the wheels of latest method backward. It over-emphasis’s the dependence of pupils on teacher, thus damaging their self-reliance and freedom for healthy growth.[1]
8. It does not take note of individual differences and special abilities of pupils and put them to the same course of studies. Therefore, it is un-psychological.[1]

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Conclusion�

Idealism may be considered to be outmoded in the prevailing scientific world view. Idealistic concepts like ‘spirit’, ‘mind’, ‘soul’, and ‘the cosmos’ have little relevance in the class-room teaching. There is too much emphasis on good manners and modesty which may be mistaken. It neglects child’s psychological nature. Idealism does not contribute to methods of teaching. It sets unobtainable goals. Idealistic scheme of education, by and large, pays attention to physical, industrial, social and electronic environment of today. It neglects social aspects of life. It over emphasizes humanity and under rates science and technology. In all, we can say that idealistic approach to education has its own merits and shortcomings. It should, therefore, be supplemented by other philosophy or philosophies of education.

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