argue that education should be tailored as closely as possible to the interests and needs of individual children."[5] Nearly all philosophies of education include a moral aspect of development.
In Howard Ozman and Samuel Craver's Philosophical Foundations of Education and Madonna Murphy's History and Philosophy of Education different theories or philosophies of education are offered from the days of Plato and Aristotle to those of modern educational philosophers like John Dewey. Three of these philosophers/educators and their philosophies of education will be the focus of this analysis: 1) St. Augustine; 2) Erasmus; and, 3) John Dewey.
The philosophy of education of Saint Augustine is often referred to as idealism. Presuppositions of idealism hold the view of the "superexistence of God, who is basically mind or self."[6] Idealism has its origins in Socrates and Plato, but Augustine held "a dualistic mind-body theory of humanity within which the mind or soul is the set of the force of goodness."[7] For idealists, another presupposition is that the universe is an expression of intelligence and will, with order "due to an external, spiritual reality."[8] Augustine's view of theological use is now known as "allegorical method" or the recognition of truth in nature and philosophy.[9] From this framework, Augustine theorized that the more we know about the world and human activity, the more profound will be out understanding of the Bible.[10] It is this perspective that helps keep Augustine's philosophy of education practical today to both secular and Christian educators.
Similar to Plato, Augustine argued that the senses are "unreliable" and that "belief in God rests ultimately on faith."[11] Augustine did not adhere to rote memorization or imitation as a means of education. His philosophy of education viewed the teacher as a paternal figure and the pupil as the child, with the teacher "helping t...