PDU3701
EXAM
PACK
2025
, • the philosophy of education which directs the education system in your country.
• the effectiveness of your own classroom practice in the education of your learners in preparing
them to live meaningfully in their communities, society and the world.
2 MEMORANDUM: SELF-STUDY QUESTIONS
We give you the basic answers to the questions, but you should expand on the answers to make them
more comprehensive in order to help you with exam preparation. Use your prescribed book and
wraparound study guide to expand on the answers.
CHAPTER 1: African philosophy and education
1. What does it mean when someone says: “I am an African”? Does this claim merely refer to the
fact that the person lives in Africa, or does it say something more?
It is about African ways of thinking and of relating to the world. Substantiate what you think.
2. How can the notion of ubuntu be incorporated in the following?
• classroom practice
• The teacher should focus on human happiness and well-being in the classroom, for example:
caring, sharing, kindness, and understanding of each learner’s context. • school life in general
Focus on the central ethical idea in African philosophy, which is ubuntu. It means that the human being
exists and develops because of the relationship it has with other human beings.
• (Prescribed textbook: pp18–20)
3. African philosophy finds expression in four distinct discourses. Name these discourses.
• Ethnic philosophy
• Sage, or wisdom philosophy
• Political philosophy
• Pure philosophy
4. Does a sense of communality exist in your educational context, whether at school, college or
university?
Provide examples when you respond to this question.
5. Which educational values does African traditional thought emphasise?
• Ubuntu
• Communality
, PDU3701/201
CHAPTER 2: Empiricism and education
1 How, according to empiricism, do we attain knowledge?
• Through experience (5 senses)
2 What can empiricism help us to achieve in education?
• To think more clearly and critically
• To be precise in what we mean
• To identify false statements
• To see how our physical world operates
• To test the truth of certain claims
• To learn from experience
• To encourage honesty
3 What is the danger of empiricism when applied to education?
• Empiricism encourages us to focus on what can be measured and tested objectively.
4 What do you think is the biggest problem in South African classrooms today?
Explain the problem as clearly as you can and stick to the facts. When you have done this, identify the
philosophy you have based your explanation on and say why you claim this to be the philosophy you have
based your explanation on.
Responses to this question will differ depending on the specific problem and the context of the classroom.
5 A philosophy that is similar to empiricism is pragmatism. What does pragmatism teach us about
philosophy?
• Philosophy of education must include a common-sense approach to life (truth is found in
everyday experience).
CHAPTER 3: Scientific rationalism and education
1 What does scientific rationalism (sometimes called critical rationalism) teach us?
• To question what we are told.
2 What is the aim of scientific rationalism?
• To identify falsehoods and search for the truth
, 3 Why does scientific rationalism only have a very limited influence on formal education
systems?
• It is essentially opposed to organisational structures that discourage questioning.
• Education systems are government-designed structures.
4 What can scientific rationalism help us achieve in education?
• To rethink education
• To encourage a democratic approach to education
• To encourage a problem-solving approach to education
• To encourage teachers and learners not to be afraid of making mistakes
• To help teachers and learners to be critical thinkers
• Its critical, questioning attitude makes it particularly suitable for the teaching of older
learners.
• To identify falsity and bogus claims
• To understand the physical world
5 Can scientific rationalism be used by teachers in their classroom practice? Substantiate your
answer.
Yes, teachers can teach learners to question everything they are told, and not to believe all what they are
told. Learners must think critically about education.
CHAPTER 4: Phenomenology and education
1 What is phenomenology?
• A philosophical method of enquiry that focuses on questions about ourselves and the world
in which we live
2 What does phenomenology claim to be our biggest problem today, and how should we go about
dealing with this problem?
• Our biggest challenge is to confront ourselves in all our ambiguity and complexity (real self).
• People should not be reduced to objects (it calls for honesty and examining our lives
closely).
3 Contemporary phenomenology started with the work of which philosopher? • German
philosopher Edmund Husserl
4 What does a phenomenological approach to education focus on?
EXAM
PACK
2025
, • the philosophy of education which directs the education system in your country.
• the effectiveness of your own classroom practice in the education of your learners in preparing
them to live meaningfully in their communities, society and the world.
2 MEMORANDUM: SELF-STUDY QUESTIONS
We give you the basic answers to the questions, but you should expand on the answers to make them
more comprehensive in order to help you with exam preparation. Use your prescribed book and
wraparound study guide to expand on the answers.
CHAPTER 1: African philosophy and education
1. What does it mean when someone says: “I am an African”? Does this claim merely refer to the
fact that the person lives in Africa, or does it say something more?
It is about African ways of thinking and of relating to the world. Substantiate what you think.
2. How can the notion of ubuntu be incorporated in the following?
• classroom practice
• The teacher should focus on human happiness and well-being in the classroom, for example:
caring, sharing, kindness, and understanding of each learner’s context. • school life in general
Focus on the central ethical idea in African philosophy, which is ubuntu. It means that the human being
exists and develops because of the relationship it has with other human beings.
• (Prescribed textbook: pp18–20)
3. African philosophy finds expression in four distinct discourses. Name these discourses.
• Ethnic philosophy
• Sage, or wisdom philosophy
• Political philosophy
• Pure philosophy
4. Does a sense of communality exist in your educational context, whether at school, college or
university?
Provide examples when you respond to this question.
5. Which educational values does African traditional thought emphasise?
• Ubuntu
• Communality
, PDU3701/201
CHAPTER 2: Empiricism and education
1 How, according to empiricism, do we attain knowledge?
• Through experience (5 senses)
2 What can empiricism help us to achieve in education?
• To think more clearly and critically
• To be precise in what we mean
• To identify false statements
• To see how our physical world operates
• To test the truth of certain claims
• To learn from experience
• To encourage honesty
3 What is the danger of empiricism when applied to education?
• Empiricism encourages us to focus on what can be measured and tested objectively.
4 What do you think is the biggest problem in South African classrooms today?
Explain the problem as clearly as you can and stick to the facts. When you have done this, identify the
philosophy you have based your explanation on and say why you claim this to be the philosophy you have
based your explanation on.
Responses to this question will differ depending on the specific problem and the context of the classroom.
5 A philosophy that is similar to empiricism is pragmatism. What does pragmatism teach us about
philosophy?
• Philosophy of education must include a common-sense approach to life (truth is found in
everyday experience).
CHAPTER 3: Scientific rationalism and education
1 What does scientific rationalism (sometimes called critical rationalism) teach us?
• To question what we are told.
2 What is the aim of scientific rationalism?
• To identify falsehoods and search for the truth
, 3 Why does scientific rationalism only have a very limited influence on formal education
systems?
• It is essentially opposed to organisational structures that discourage questioning.
• Education systems are government-designed structures.
4 What can scientific rationalism help us achieve in education?
• To rethink education
• To encourage a democratic approach to education
• To encourage a problem-solving approach to education
• To encourage teachers and learners not to be afraid of making mistakes
• To help teachers and learners to be critical thinkers
• Its critical, questioning attitude makes it particularly suitable for the teaching of older
learners.
• To identify falsity and bogus claims
• To understand the physical world
5 Can scientific rationalism be used by teachers in their classroom practice? Substantiate your
answer.
Yes, teachers can teach learners to question everything they are told, and not to believe all what they are
told. Learners must think critically about education.
CHAPTER 4: Phenomenology and education
1 What is phenomenology?
• A philosophical method of enquiry that focuses on questions about ourselves and the world
in which we live
2 What does phenomenology claim to be our biggest problem today, and how should we go about
dealing with this problem?
• Our biggest challenge is to confront ourselves in all our ambiguity and complexity (real self).
• People should not be reduced to objects (it calls for honesty and examining our lives
closely).
3 Contemporary phenomenology started with the work of which philosopher? • German
philosopher Edmund Husserl
4 What does a phenomenological approach to education focus on?
