major proposition in philosophy
DESCRIPTION
Naturalism, Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, ExistentialismTRANSCRIPT
Synthesis of Major Philosophy
(Naturalism, Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, Existentialism)
Its Main Propositions
Compiled by Johny S. Natad
Masterand
Bukidnon State University
Graduate School
Synthesis of Major Philosophy Compiled by Johny S. Natad October 2009 Page 2 of 10
Naturalism
• Nature is all the reality there is. (Leucippus, Democritus, Epicurus, Lucretius, and Spencer)
• Reality is comprised of bodies moving in space. (Leucippus, Democritus, Epicurus, Lucretius,
and Hobbes)
• Ultimate reality is force or energy. (Spencer)
• The most acceptable life is possessed by keeping close to the simple and peaceful ways of
nature. (Leucippus, Democritus, Epicurus, Lucretius, and Rousseau)
Source:
Four Philosophies and Their
Practices in Education and
Religion
By: Donald J. Butler
Sy
nth
esi
s o
f M
ajo
r P
hil
oso
ph
y
Co
mp
ile
d b
y J
oh
ny
S.
Na
tad
O
cto
be
r 2
00
9
Pa
ge
3 o
f 1
0
PH
IL
OS
OP
HY
M
ET
AP
HY
SIC
S
EP
IS
TE
MO
LO
GY
A
XIO
LO
GY
IS
M I
N R
EL
IG
IO
N
IS
M I
N E
DU
CA
TIO
N
ST
RE
NG
TH
S
WE
AK
NE
SS
ES
NA
TU
RA
LIS
M
• N
atu
re i
s a
ll
the
re i
s, a
nd
all
ba
sic
tru
ths
are
tru
ths
of
na
ture
• N
atu
re i
s g
oo
d;
soci
ety
is
evil
an
d c
raft
y
• N
atu
re o
ffe
rs u
s
fre
ed
om
an
d
ne
cess
ity,
if w
e
live
clo
se t
o h
er;
soci
ety
off
ers
tyra
nn
y a
nd
au
tho
rity
• N
atu
re h
as
smo
oth
-flo
win
g
rhyth
ms
wh
ich
cho
ose
th
eir
ow
n t
ime
•
Th
ere
is
no
hig
he
r tr
ibu
na
l
for
tru
th t
ha
n
na
tura
l it
self
•
Sci
en
ce i
s th
e
be
st w
ay t
o
exp
lore
th
e
pro
cess
es
of
the
un
ive
rse
an
d t
ha
t th
ose
pro
cess
es
are
wh
at
mo
de
rn
scie
nce
is
stri
vin
g t
o
un
de
rsta
nd
• T
o p
rese
rve
na
tura
l g
oo
dn
ess
an
d v
irtu
e
•
Re
du
ces
Re
lig
ion
to a
ph
en
om
en
on
of
hu
ma
n
exp
eri
en
ce
•
Go
d i
s th
at
stru
ctu
re in
th
e
wo
rld
wh
ich
ma
ke
s
po
ssib
le t
he
rea
liza
tio
n o
f
va
lue
s
• E
du
cati
on
mu
st
sati
sfy t
he
in
bo
rn
ne
ed
s o
f th
e
ind
ivid
ua
l
• E
du
cati
on
is
ge
are
d t
o t
he
ind
ivid
ua
l g
row
th
• E
du
cati
on
is
no
t
sim
ply
me
nta
l in
na
ture
• C
on
trib
ute
s a
sim
pli
fyin
g
infl
ue
nce
,
ne
utr
ali
zin
g
con
fusi
on
of
self
an
d s
oci
ety
eff
ect
me
asu
rab
le
be
ne
fits
•
Ove
rsim
pli
fie
s
life
an
d e
xist
en
ce
an
d d
oe
s n
ot
go
de
ep
en
ou
gh
in
its
att
em
pte
d
exp
lan
ati
on
s
Synthesis of Major Philosophy Compiled by Johny S. Natad October 2009 Page 4 of 10
Idealism
• Ultimate reality is of the same substance as ideas. (Plato and Hegel)
• Behind the phenomenal world is an infinite Spirit that is both substructure and creator of
cosmos. (Leibniz and Berkeley)
• One of the two attributes of God is thought. (Spinoza)
• The existence of God is made necessary by certain factors in selfhood –
� The fact that I have an idea of perfect being necessitates that perfect being exist.
(Descartes)
� The fact that I have perceived qualities in the objective world necessitates a God
to create these qualities. (Berkeley)
� The fact that there is a category of imperatives in self necessitates God as the
one who guarantees contentment as the accompaniment of moral obedience.
(Kant)
On selfhood
• The self is the prime reality in the experience of a person. (Descartes, Berkeley, and Kant)
• Human selves are like God that there are spirits, unlike Him in that they are finite.
(Leibniz)
• Man as a thinking being is a part of God. (Spinoza)
• The human self has freedom of will. (Leibniz and Kant)
On knowledge
• By examining his own ideas and testing their consistency, man can achieve truth. (Plato,
Leibniz, and Hegel)
• The self reads meaning and unity into the objective.
• Value and meaning are obtained by relating parts and an whole. (Spinoza)
Source:
Four Philosophies and Their
Practices in Education and
Religion
By: Donald J. Butler
Sy
nth
esi
s o
f M
ajo
r P
hil
oso
ph
y
Co
mp
ile
d b
y J
oh
ny
S.
Na
tad
O
cto
be
r 2
00
9
Pa
ge
5 o
f 1
0
PH
IL
OS
OP
HY
M
ET
AP
HY
SIC
S
EP
IS
TE
MO
LO
GY
A
XIO
LO
GY
IS
M I
N R
EL
IG
IO
N
IS
M I
N E
DU
CA
TIO
N
ST
RE
NG
TH
S
WE
AK
NE
SS
ES
IDE
ALI
SM
• R
ea
lity
is
spir
itu
al
or
me
nta
l a
nd
un
cha
ng
ing
• A
ll o
f re
ality
is
red
uci
ble
to
on
e
fun
da
me
nta
l
sub
sta
nce
– s
pir
it
• M
att
er
is n
ot
rea
l, r
ath
er
it i
s a
no
tio
n,
an
illu
stra
tio
ns
of
the
min
d
• I
t is
on
ly t
he
min
d t
ha
t is
re
al
• K
no
win
g i
s th
e
reth
inkin
g o
f
late
nt
ide
as
• A
ll k
no
wle
dg
e i
s
ind
ep
en
de
nt
of
sen
se
exp
eri
en
ce
• T
he
act
of
kn
ow
ing
ta
ke
s
pla
ce w
ith
in t
he
min
d
• T
he
min
d i
s
act
ive
an
d
con
tain
s in
na
te
cap
aci
tie
s fo
r
org
an
izin
g a
nd
syn
the
sizi
ng
th
e
da
ta d
eri
ve
d
thro
ug
h
sen
sati
on
• V
alu
es
are
ab
solu
te a
nd
ete
rna
l
• V
alu
es
are
roo
ted
eit
he
r in
a p
ers
on
al
Go
d
or
in a
n
imp
ers
on
al
spir
it
forc
e o
f n
atu
re
• R
eli
gio
n p
rovid
es
stru
ctu
re f
or
inte
lle
ctu
alizi
ng
reli
gio
us
fait
h a
nd
exp
eri
en
ce
• T
he
cu
rric
ulu
m i
s
ba
sed
up
on
th
e
ide
a o
r a
ssu
mp
tio
n
of
the
sp
irit
ua
l
na
ture
of
ma
n
• A
su
bje
ct –
ma
tte
r
or
curr
icu
lum
mu
st
em
ph
asi
ze t
he
gre
at
an
d e
nd
uri
ng
id
ea
s
of
the
cu
ltu
re
• S
ub
ject
s m
ust
be
ess
en
tia
l fo
r th
e
rea
liza
tio
n o
f
me
nta
l a
nd
mo
ral
de
ve
lop
me
nt
• C
an
liv
e w
ith
scie
nce
, va
lue
it,
an
d j
oin
in
its
ad
va
nce
me
nt,
bu
t a
t th
e s
am
e
tim
e it
can
als
o
insi
st,
as
it d
oe
r,
on
th
e
sup
eri
ori
ty o
f
the
hu
ma
n a
nd
pe
rso
na
l o
ve
r
scie
nti
fic
ach
ieve
me
nt
• T
he
ab
un
da
nce
of
mis
con
cep
tio
ns
• T
he
id
ea
ab
ou
t
ma
n i
s ir
rele
va
nt
in o
ur
pre
sen
t
his
tori
c se
ttin
g
• I
t is
su
bje
ctiv
e t
o
wh
ich
no
thin
g
exi
sts
exc
ep
t in
the
min
d o
f th
e
ind
ivid
ua
l
Synthesis of Major Philosophy Compiled by Johny S. Natad October 2009 Page 6 of 10
REALISM
On the Physical Word
• Nature is a primary self evident reality, a starting point in philosophizing. (Aristotle)
• The physical world is real, at least for the duration of the temporal order. (Saint Thomas
and Descartes)
• There is no thought without extension. (Spinoza)
• The primary qualities of experience exist in the physical world. (Locke)
• There is something which produces my sensations and perceptions, the thing-in-itself,
which cannot be known to be mental character. (Kant)
On the Character of Mind
• Mind is like a mirror receiving images from the physical world. (Comenius)
• The mind of a child at birth is similar to a blank sheet of paper upon which the world
proceeds to write its impression. (Locke)
• Mind is a manifold of ideas and concepts. (Herbart)
• Consciousness is not a substance, it is an awareness of experiences, and experience is a
medium in which objects and organisms are related. (James)
Source:
Four Philosophies and Their
Practices in Education and
Religion
By: Donald J. Butler
Sy
nth
esi
s o
f M
ajo
r P
hil
oso
ph
y
Co
mp
ile
d b
y J
oh
ny
S.
Na
tad
O
cto
be
r 2
00
9
Pa
ge
7 o
f 1
0
PH
IL
OS
OP
HY
M
ET
AP
HY
SIC
S
EP
IS
TE
MO
LO
GY
A
XIO
LO
GY
IS
M I
N R
EL
IG
IO
N
IS
M I
N E
DU
CA
TIO
N
ST
RE
NG
TH
S
WE
AK
NE
SS
ES
RE
ALI
SM
• R
ea
lity
co
nsi
sts
of
ma
ny s
ub
sta
nce
s
(plu
rali
sm)
• T
he
re i
s p
riva
tio
n
of
wil
l (f
ree
wil
l)
• T
he
se
lf c
on
sist
s
of
bo
dy(m
ate
ria
l
pri
nci
ple
) a
nd
sou
l(ra
tio
na
l-
spir
itu
al
pri
nci
ple
) in
ma
n
• T
he
wo
rld
is
ma
de
of
rea
l,
sub
sta
nti
al,
an
d
ma
teri
al e
nti
tie
s
• K
no
wle
dg
e i
s
ind
ep
en
de
nt
on
min
d
• T
he
in
stru
me
nt
of
kn
ow
led
ge
are
exp
eri
en
ce (
sen
sory
– p
erc
ep
tua
l
exp
eri
en
ce);
au
tho
rita
ria
nis
m
(ch
urc
h,
sch
oo
l a
nd
sta
te,
an
d
reve
lati
on
)
• A
t b
irth
, th
e m
ind
of
ma
n i
s b
lan
k
(ta
bu
la r
asa
)
• M
an
ca
n c
ap
ita
lize
d
on
th
is k
no
wle
dg
e
by u
sin
g r
ea
son
to
dis
cove
r o
bje
cts
&
rela
tio
nsh
ips
wh
ich
he
do
es
no
t o
r
can
no
t p
erc
eiv
e
• C
om
mo
n s
en
se
sho
ws
tha
t it
is
rea
son
ab
le t
o
ass
um
e t
ha
t o
bje
cts
exi
st i
nd
ep
en
de
nt
of
on
e’s
min
d a
nd
tha
t m
an
ca
n
dis
cove
r th
ese
thin
gs
by u
sin
g
sen
ses
• V
alu
es
are
sim
ply
ind
efi
na
ble
• A
va
lue
is
de
pe
nd
en
t
up
on
th
e a
ttit
ud
e o
f
sen
tie
nt
• A
nyth
ing
co
nsi
ste
nt
wit
h n
atu
re i
s
va
lua
ble
• S
tan
da
rds
of
va
lue
are
fou
nd
(de
term
ine
) b
y
me
an
s o
f a
ct o
f
rea
son
• V
alu
e j
ud
gm
en
t is
ne
ve
r co
nsi
de
red
to
be
fa
ctu
al,
it
is a
sub
ject
ive
ju
dg
me
nt
ba
sed
on
fe
eli
ng
• A
cce
pte
d v
alu
es
con
form
s w
ith
th
e
pre
va
ilin
g o
pin
ion
of
soci
ety
• P
reva
ilin
g o
pin
ion
of
soci
ety
re
fle
cts
the
sta
tus
qu
o o
f so
cia
l
rea
lity
• S
oci
al
rea
lity
rep
rese
nts
th
e t
ruth
tha
t is
ou
t th
ere
,
be
yo
nd
th
e m
ind
• T
he
re i
s b
asi
s fo
r
wo
rsh
ip o
f a
Go
d
wh
o i
s re
al in
act
ua
l w
orl
d
• A
pu
pil
sh
all
be
tau
gh
t w
ith
str
on
g
sta
tes
of
pe
rso
na
l
dis
cip
lin
e
• P
up
il m
ust
be
pro
vid
ed
wit
h
ess
en
tia
l kn
ow
led
ge
req
uir
ed
fo
r su
rviv
al
in n
atu
ral
wo
rld
• C
urr
icu
lum
is
be
st
org
an
ize
d a
cco
rdin
g
to s
ub
ject
– m
att
er
• C
urr
icu
lum
sh
ou
ld
als
o e
mp
ha
size
d t
he
eff
ect
s o
f th
e s
oci
al
en
vir
on
me
nt
on
th
e
ind
ivid
ua
l’s
life
• S
ub
ject
s a
re t
au
gh
t
by a
te
ach
er
wh
o is
imp
ers
on
al
an
d
ob
ject
ive
an
d k
no
ws
the
su
bje
ct f
ull
y
• T
he
te
ach
ing
me
tho
d
reco
mm
en
de
d a
re
au
tho
rita
tive
• W
ha
teve
r is
rea
l is
ind
ep
en
de
nt
of
eve
ry f
init
e
ind
ivid
ua
l w
ho
ma
y k
no
w i
t
• R
ea
lism
de
ma
nd
s a
nd
reco
gn
ize
s o
f
rela
tio
n t
o
tha
t w
hic
h i
s
be
yo
nd
se
lf
• R
ea
lity
is
cap
ab
le o
f
inte
rpre
tati
on
• E
mb
race
plu
rali
sm i
n
pre
fere
nce
to
a
mo
re o
r
ess
en
ce s
ide
• C
on
cep
tio
n o
f
pu
pil i
s n
ot
ad
eq
ua
te
• R
ea
lism
pla
ces
too
mu
ch
con
fid
en
ce in
tra
nsm
issi
on
of
con
ten
t
• T
oo
mu
ch
stre
ss u
po
n t
he
form
ati
on
of
the
pu
pil
Synthesis of Major Philosophy Compiled by Johny S. Natad October 2009 Page 8 of 10
PRAGMATISM
• All things flow, nothing remains the same. (Heraclitus and Dewey)
• It is impossible to gain knowledge of ultimate reality. (The Sophists and Dewey)
• Hypothesis tested by experience constitute the nearest approach to knowledge which we
have. (The Sophists and Dewey)
• Science should become a special pursuit by being applied cooperatively to the study of all
the problems of a man. (Bacon, Comte and Dewey)
• In order to determine the meaning of an idea, it must be put into practice; the
consequences which follow constitute the meaning of the idea. (James and Dewey)
Source:
Four Philosophies and Their
Practices in Education and
Religion
By: Donald J. Butler
Sy
nth
esi
s o
f M
ajo
r P
hil
oso
ph
y
Co
mp
ile
d b
y J
oh
ny
S.
Na
tad
O
cto
be
r 2
00
9
Pa
ge
9 o
f 1
0
PH
IL
OS
OP
HY
M
ET
AP
HY
SIC
S
EP
IS
TE
MO
LO
GY
A
XIO
LO
GY
IS
M I
N R
EL
IG
IO
N
IS
M I
N E
DU
CA
TIO
N
ST
RE
NG
TH
S
WE
AK
NE
SS
ES
PR
AG
MA
TIS
M
• R
ea
lity
is
the
inte
ract
ion
of
an
ind
ivid
ua
l w
ith
en
vir
on
me
nt
or
exp
eri
en
ce:
it i
s
alw
ays
cha
ng
ing
• R
ea
lity
ca
nn
ot
be
pro
ve
n,
eve
n if
it
we
re,
it w
ou
ldn
’t
he
lp u
s so
lve
pro
ble
ms
• R
ea
lity
is
de
pe
nd
en
t u
po
n
exp
eri
en
ce w
hic
h
de
term
ine
kn
ow
led
ge
• M
an
is
bo
th i
n
the
wo
rld
of
his
pe
rce
pti
on
• K
no
win
g
resu
lts
fro
m
exp
eri
en
cin
g
use
of
scie
nti
fic
me
tho
d
• R
ea
son
is
the
chie
f
inst
rum
en
t o
f
kn
ow
led
ge
(Ra
tio
na
lism
)
• T
ruth
is
som
eth
ing
th
at
ha
pp
en
s to
an
ide
a
• K
no
win
g t
o
ma
ke
pe
rso
na
l
cho
ice
s
• V
alu
es
are
situ
ati
on
al o
r
rela
tive
• U
ltim
ate
va
lue
s
can
no
t e
xist
fo
r
tru
th i
s a
lwa
ys
rela
tive
an
d
con
dit
ion
al
• V
alu
e
jud
gm
en
t a
re
use
ful
as
me
an
s to
an
inte
llig
en
t li
fe
• T
he
re i
s n
o
sup
ern
atu
ral b
ase
for
reli
gio
us
exp
eri
en
ce
• G
oo
d a
nd
evil
are
dra
ma
tica
lly
op
po
sed
to
on
e
an
oth
er
by a
pre
cari
ou
sly
de
cisi
ve
wo
rld
• S
cho
ol
mu
st a
im a
t
de
ve
lop
ing
th
ose
exp
eri
en
ces
tha
t
wil
l e
na
ble
on
e t
o
lea
d a
go
od
lif
e
• A
dvo
cate
th
e
imp
ort
an
ce o
f
de
mo
cra
cy
• E
du
cati
on
mu
st
he
lp i
ts s
tud
en
ts
be
com
e e
xce
lle
nt
citi
zen
s in
a
de
mo
cra
tic
soci
ety
• T
ea
che
rs m
ust
pro
vid
e
exp
eri
en
ce
tha
t w
ill
exc
ite
mo
tiva
tio
n
• S
cho
ol
Cu
rric
ulu
m
mu
st b
e p
art
of
soci
al
con
text
• In
stru
ctio
n
org
an
ize
d a
rou
nd
pro
ble
m s
olv
ing
acc
ord
ing
to
th
e
scie
nti
fic
me
tho
d
• O
ffe
rs w
ise
cou
nse
l fo
r
da
y-t
o-d
ay
livin
g w
hic
h
ma
y h
elp
ma
inta
in
me
nta
l h
ea
lth
• K
ee
p u
s cl
ose
to e
xpe
rie
nce
an
d t
o s
he
lte
r
for
us
art
ific
ial
of
the
clo
iste
red
an
d
form
all
y
aca
de
mic
• H
elp
s to
dis
cern
th
e
wa
ys
of
exp
eri
en
ce a
nd
off
ers
so
me
sou
rce
in
th
e
con
tro
l o
f
exp
eri
en
ce
• H
as
a g
rea
t
con
trib
uti
on
in
ed
uca
tio
n i
n
giv
ing
sen
siti
vit
y t
o
the
cycl
e o
f
lea
rnin
g
• B
ein
g p
ract
ica
l
wo
uld
so
me
tim
es
loo
se o
ur
mo
ral
va
lue
s
• N
ot
sati
sfa
cto
rily
rep
rese
nti
ng
th
e
ess
en
ce a
nd
exi
ste
nce
of
ind
ivid
ua
l
• T
he
ap
pli
cati
on
of
exp
eri
me
nta
l
me
tho
d i
s a
rbit
rary
be
ing
do
ne
to
eve
ry i
nd
ivid
ua
l
• R
ad
ica
lly n
eg
ati
ve
in i
ts o
nto
log
ica
l
me
an
ing
• R
ed
efi
nin
g r
eli
gio
n
as
wis
do
m
po
inti
ng
to
ce
rta
in
att
itu
de
s in
reli
gio
us
de
vo
tio
n,
wh
ich
are
ne
ed
ed
for
eff
ect
ive
lyin
g
• E
xpe
rim
en
tal
me
tho
d i
s a
pp
lie
d
a b
it m
ore
un
ive
rsa
l a
nd
arb
itra
ry i
n
ed
uca
tio
na
l
me
tho
d
Sy
nth
esi
s o
f M
ajo
r P
hil
oso
ph
y
Co
mp
ile
d b
y J
oh
ny
S.
Na
tad
O
cto
be
r 2
00
9
Pa
ge
10
of
10
PH
IL
OS
OP
HY
M
ET
AP
HY
SIC
S
EP
IS
TE
MO
LO
GY
A
XIO
LO
GY
IS
M I
N R
EL
IG
IO
N
IS
M I
N E
DU
CA
TIO
N
ST
RE
NG
TH
S
WE
AK
NE
SS
ES
EX
IST
EN
TIA
LIS
M
•
Re
ali
ty i
s
sub
ject
ive
wit
h
exi
ste
nce
pre
ced
ing
ess
en
ce
•
“Fa
ctic
ity”
an
d
“exi
ste
nce
”
pre
ced
es
ess
en
ce
• K
no
win
g t
o
ma
ke
pe
rso
na
l
cho
ice
s
• V
alu
es
sho
uld
be
fre
ely
ch
ose
n
• B
eli
evin
g i
n G
od
is
a
ma
tte
r o
f ch
oic
e
(Th
eis
tic
or
Ath
eis
tic)
• T
ea
chin
g s
tra
teg
ies
mu
st s
tim
ula
te a
n
aw
are
ne
ss t
ha
t
ea
ch p
ers
on
cre
ate
s
a s
elf
-co
nce
pt
thro
ug
h s
ign
ific
an
t
cho
ice
s
• T
ea
che
r sh
ou
ld h
elp
the
stu
de
nt
to
be
com
e f
or
him
self
wh
at
it i
s h
e w
an
ts
to b
eco
me
• S
cho
ol
ass
ists
stu
de
nt
in k
no
win
g
the
mse
lve
s a
nd
lea
nin
g t
he
ir p
lace
in s
oci
ety
• F
ree
do
m w
ith
con
ve
rge
nce
or
resp
on
sib
ilit
y
• T
he
re a
re a
lo
t o
f
op
po
rtu
nit
ies
to
exp
lore
na
ture
an
d e
nh
an
ce
on
ese
lf o
ut
of
the
giv
en
fre
ed
om
• R
esp
ect
fo
r
ind
ivid
ua
l’s
ba
ckg
rou
nd
• V
alu
e f
orm
ati
on
an
d in
teg
rati
on
are
en
live
n
thro
ug
h d
eci
sio
n
– m
akin
g a
nd
exp
eri
en
ce
• S
tan
da
rd o
f
go
od
ne
ss v
ari
es
fro
m a
no
the
r
• O
ne
’s c
ho
ice
ma
y n
ot
be
of
oth
ers
• R
esp
ect
fo
r
oth
ers
is
seld
om
con
sid
ere
d