COURSE CODE: PDU3701
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 03
UNIQUE NUMBER: 899953
Year: 2023
*Please note that these assignments are from the year 2023 and may only be used as a
guideline to answer questions.
*Copying directly from this assignment is prohibited.
, Question 1:
Write short notes on each of the following philosophies’ views on education:
Empiricism:
The word “Empiricism” means “experience-ism” and teaches us that everything we know
and learn is based on what we experience personally through our five senses. Those are;
seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. In other words, we can say that Empiricism
teaches that people learn through their experiences.
We can say that Empiricism is a practical philosophy and is not really concerned with things
we cannot prove to be true. As far as education is concerned, Empiricism is important
because it teaches that we are by nature ignorant (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Teachers who support the Empiricism philosophy would focus on telling learners the facts
about the world we live in and would probably focus on science and scientific subjects rather
than subjects such like, literature or art, just because of the fact that science is observable.
Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka, 2022, states that Empiricism encourages critical thinking and
can be prepared to challenge authority. If people ignore Empiricism they will fail to learn
from their experiences and make themselves vulnerable to believe things that are not true.
Empiricism is also seen as a context-free philosophy by means it teaches that all people from
different cultural experiences are capable of pursuing truth that is based on what can and
cannot be proven. Indeed, Empiricism states that this is the only form of truth that exists
(Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Phenomenology:
This philosophy examines people and objects the way they really are without urging
opinions or theories on this reality and focusing on what we experience rather than focusing
on a scientific analysis of our experiences (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka, 2022, states that phenomenology does not take anything for
granted and it assumes nothing. This philosophy claims that our biggest problem is to
confront ourselves in all our uncertainty and complexity and as a result to get closer to the
“real-self”.
Phenomenology is unique from other philosophies and does not contain a body of content
which can be taught by teachers. Instead, we get the chance to reflect, honestly and without
pretending something to be true, on the human condition. We also get the chance to
discover ourselves to find the “real you” behind the masks and illusions of personality (Philip
Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Phenomenology suggest that people and the world interact with one another daily, and
influence one another. Thus, can Phenomenology be summed up as “I am in the world and
the world is in me” (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
2
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 03
UNIQUE NUMBER: 899953
Year: 2023
*Please note that these assignments are from the year 2023 and may only be used as a
guideline to answer questions.
*Copying directly from this assignment is prohibited.
, Question 1:
Write short notes on each of the following philosophies’ views on education:
Empiricism:
The word “Empiricism” means “experience-ism” and teaches us that everything we know
and learn is based on what we experience personally through our five senses. Those are;
seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching. In other words, we can say that Empiricism
teaches that people learn through their experiences.
We can say that Empiricism is a practical philosophy and is not really concerned with things
we cannot prove to be true. As far as education is concerned, Empiricism is important
because it teaches that we are by nature ignorant (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Teachers who support the Empiricism philosophy would focus on telling learners the facts
about the world we live in and would probably focus on science and scientific subjects rather
than subjects such like, literature or art, just because of the fact that science is observable.
Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka, 2022, states that Empiricism encourages critical thinking and
can be prepared to challenge authority. If people ignore Empiricism they will fail to learn
from their experiences and make themselves vulnerable to believe things that are not true.
Empiricism is also seen as a context-free philosophy by means it teaches that all people from
different cultural experiences are capable of pursuing truth that is based on what can and
cannot be proven. Indeed, Empiricism states that this is the only form of truth that exists
(Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Phenomenology:
This philosophy examines people and objects the way they really are without urging
opinions or theories on this reality and focusing on what we experience rather than focusing
on a scientific analysis of our experiences (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka, 2022, states that phenomenology does not take anything for
granted and it assumes nothing. This philosophy claims that our biggest problem is to
confront ourselves in all our uncertainty and complexity and as a result to get closer to the
“real-self”.
Phenomenology is unique from other philosophies and does not contain a body of content
which can be taught by teachers. Instead, we get the chance to reflect, honestly and without
pretending something to be true, on the human condition. We also get the chance to
discover ourselves to find the “real you” behind the masks and illusions of personality (Philip
Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
Phenomenology suggest that people and the world interact with one another daily, and
influence one another. Thus, can Phenomenology be summed up as “I am in the world and
the world is in me” (Philip Higgs, Moeketsi Letseka 2022).
2
