Interviews with Philosophers
Confucius and Plato
| Confucius Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Confucius_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_15250.jpg |
Plato Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Platon-2b.jpg |
SAM: What is knowledge?
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Confucius:
I believe that knowledge should be about knowing who and what one is. Students should be searching and developing the qualities within ourselves.
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Plato:
The construction of knowledge begins with mathematics. Arithmetic provides the preliminary development of abstract concepts. Only after establishing strong mathematical foundation will we establish genuine knowledge.
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Socrates:
There are two kinds of knowledge: ordinary knowledge and definitional knowledge. Ordinary knowledge is of very specific knowledge. Definitional knowledge is about defining words and concepts.
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SAM:
Wow! I do not know there are so many different kinds of knowledge and different ways of thinking. Our school of future should expose students to various knowledge and thoughts.
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References:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/confucius/
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http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JOCP/jc26595.htm
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http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2h.htm
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http://www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Socrates.html
Socrates and Aristotle
| Socrates Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vatsoc.jpg |
Aristotle Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aristotle_Altemps_Inv8575.jpg |
SAM: What are the goals of education?
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Socrates:
The goals of education are to know what you can; even more importantly, to know what you do not know.
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Aristotle:
The aims of education are to pursue the good life and at the same time to know the nature of the best state and the highest virtues of which human beings are capable.
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SAM:
So does that mean education is only for one's intellectual pleasures?
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Bertrand Russell:
Not exactly. Education should be practical because the educational process is a means to an end, and not an end in itself. The crux of practicality is that it benefits something that is not purely practical.
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Confucius:
In today's world, most people see education as the mastery of a skill or trade so that one will be able to earn a livelihood. However, man's most important knowledge is not knowledge about technology, business or other external things.
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SAM:
Therefore schools of the future should not only infuse skills necessary for the workplace, they should also open their students' minds to the world. Education provided by future schools should provide a good balance between practicality and idealism.
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Mencius:
I also believe that the great man is one who has endured suffering and overcome misfortune; no excellence and greatness can be achieved without toil and hard times first.Thus, in my understanding, a good education and hard work are often inseparable.
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SAM:
With respect to that, school of future should thus provide the necessary environment for students to understand that perseverance and tenacity is necessary for their "healthy" learning.They can place challenges in the path of students once in a while.
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_russell
Bertrand Russell and Mencius
| Bertrand Russell Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russell1907-2.jpg |
Mencius Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mencius.jpg |
SAM: What are the methods of teaching?
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Socrates:
A teacher should ask leading questions, guiding students to discovery.
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SAM:
What if students are not willing to put in efforts in their learning?
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Confucius:
I only instruct the eager and enlighten the fervent. I pose questions and wait for the students to give me the answers. If not, I will not continue the lesson. Also, I adapt my teaching to suit the different learning abilities of my students.
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Piaget:
I believe that education consist of two parts: early education and moral education. Children develop best in a classroom with interactions. Also, they develop moral ideas in stages and form their own ideas about the world.
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget
What are the goals of education?
To find out the purpose of education.
Positions:
For practical knowledge (1)
For intellectual pleasures (0)
- For practical knowledge
School has to equip students with practical skills that enable them to find a job. Theories and philosophies are only concepts and can be found to be lacking in actual practice.
Apr. 25, 2009