Democracy and Education · Chapter
Physical and Social Studies: Naturalism and Humanism explained
This chapter examines the historical and philosophical conflict between natural science and literary studies in education, tracing the dualism between nature and man from Greek philosophy through the Renaissance and modern science.
What happens
This chapter examines the historical and philosophical conflict between natural science and literary studies in education, tracing the dualism between nature and man from Greek philosophy through the Renaissance and modern science. Dewey argues for a unified curriculum that integrates natural and humanistic studies, emphasizing that experience knows no division between human concerns and the physical world. He advocates for teaching science through its social connections and everyday applications, and defines humanistic study as any study that increases concern for the values of life and social well-being.
Themes in this chapter
Unity of Knowledge and Action
Dewey argues for a unified scheme of education that integrates natural and humanistic studies, rejecting the dualistic separation of mind and world.
Experience and Learning by Doing
The chapter emphasizes using ordinary experience and familiar occupations as the starting point for scientific instruction, connecting knowledge to practical life.
Social Function of Education
Dewey stresses that any study is cultural and humane when it increases concern for social well-being and is grasped in its social connections.
Characters to notice
- Socrates
Socrates appears as a thinker who believed science of nature was not attainable or very important, focusing instead on the nature and end of man.
- Plato
Plato is discussed as connecting knowledge of man and society to knowledge of nature, subordinating literary studies to mathematics and physics in the interest of humanistic ends.
- Aristotle
Aristotle is noted for going further in the direction of naturalistic studies, subordinating civic relations to the purely cognitive life and emphasizing participation in pure knowing.
Key passages
“In truth, experience knows no division between human concerns and a purely mechanical physical world. Man's home is nature; his purposes and aims are dependent for execution upon natural conditions.”
Experience does not separate human interests from the physical world; human aims rely on natural conditions for their realization.
Dewey asserts the fundamental unity of human experience and nature, rejecting dualistic philosophies.
“Any study so pursued that it increases concern for the values of life, any study producing greater sensitiveness to social well-being and greater ability to promote that well-being is humane study.”
A study is humane if it enhances one's concern for life's values and increases sensitivity and ability to promote social well-being.
Dewey redefines humanistic study in terms of its social and moral impact, not its subject matter.