Question- Describe the limitations of Idealism.

Answer -

Limitations of Idealism

1. Utopian Aims : Plato, the first idealist philosopher of education, presented a scheme which was through and through Utopian inspite of its deep insight into human life here and there. In fact, in his idealistic flight, the thinker often leaves the solid ground and presents aims and ideals which can be neither realized nor cherished.

2. Theoretical Method : The idealist method of teaching makes too much of memory, personal contact and brain faculties. They lay less emphasis upon the development of various types of interests and abilities which help educand in playing important role in society.

3. Lack of Specialization : The idealist curriculum is too wide and lacks specialization which is most growing demand of education.

4. Neglect of Science and Technology : The idealist thinkers have laid emphasis upon culture in education and neglected science and technology. Therefore, today most of the educational institutions have rejected idealistic curriculum.

5. Teacher Centred : While modern education is child-centred or educand-centred, the idealist system is teacher-centred. By expecting too much from the teacher it does not allow him to live as a human being with a multisided personality. Too much expectation from the teacher ultimately results in his criticism by the students and society. The role of teacher today is very much different from his role in ancient time. Education today is a life long but limited part of life. It goes on even without the teacher. Various audio-visual means are replacing all important roles of the teacher. Therefore, neither the modern teacher nor the taught accept the ancient idealist concept and status of the teacher.

From the perusal of the above mentioned advantages and disadvantages of the idealist philosophy of education, it is clear that though some sort of idealism must stay in every field of education, the ideal of education cannot be realized without the help of naturalism, pragmatism and realism.

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