Aristotle Theory, View, Aim, Curriculum & Method of Education

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 09:45 -- Umar Farooq

Aristotle is the disciple of Plato and the tutor of Alexander the Great. Aristotle is well known scientist
and philosopher. When Alexander became the king of Macedonia, Aristotle established his own
school lyceum in Athens.
Aristotle View of Education
Points of Aristotle view of education are below:

Aristotle Aim of Education

His view about the aim of education was different from that of his predecessors Socrates and Plato.
He believed in the purposefulness of education. According to Socrates and Plato, 'the aim of
education is to attain knowledge'.
To them the attainment of knowledge was necessary both for the interest of the individual and the
society, hence it was virtue by itself. Aristotle has a different view. To him the aim of education was
not only the attainment of knowledge but also the attainment of happiness or goodness in life. He
believed that virtue lies in the attainment of happiness or goodness. He has divided 'goodness' into
two categories 'goodness' of intellect and goodness of character. The former can be produced and
increased by teaching and is the product of training and experience. The latter is the result of habit,
and it can be attained by the formation of good habits.

Aristotle's definition of education is the same as that of his teachers, that is, the "the creation of a
sound mind in a sound body". Thus to him the aim of education was the welfare of the individuals so
as to bring happiness in their lives.
Aristotle Scheme of Education
Aristotelian scheme of education is quite similar to that prescribed by his teacher, Plato, in his
"Republic": He also believes that the education of the early childhood period should be the
responsibility of the parents. After this, further education is the responsibility of the state, but it does
not mean that parents are free from the responsibility of their children. They are still responsibility for
their moral education.

Aristotle curriculum
Like Plato, he also stresses on 'gymnastic'. But to him the purpose for getting the training of
gymnastics was not only to produce perfection in athletics but also to develop the spirit of
sportsmanship and above all to develop good habits for the control of passions and appetites. He
considers music and literature useful for the' moral and intellectual development at an early stage of
education.

He recommends the teaching of 'mathematics' for higher education because it develops the power of
deductive reasoning in man. The teaching of physics and astronomy is also necessary at this stage.

Aristotle Method of Teaching

Aristotle suggested inductive and deductive methods of teaching. He was the first to formulate the
logic of these procedures. Aristotle applied these methods both for the objective and subjective
studies: It is in this respect that he is considered as the father of modern sciences.
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