Philosophy – the science that seeks to organize and systemize all fields of knowledge as a means of understanding and interpreting the totality of reality. – systematic and logical explanation of the nature, existence, purpose and relationships of things, including human beings in the universe.

Main Branches of Philosophy

1. Metaphysics deals with the first principles, the origin an essence of things, the causes and end of thing. – it is the science of existence.
2. Epistemology deals with knowledge and with ways of knowing. – conceptual – perceptual intuitive
3. Axiology deals with purposes and values. – ethics
4. Logic deals with the correct way of thinking.

Major Philosophies of Education

1. Idealism (platonic) reality consists of transcendental universal, form, or ideals which are the object of true knowledge. (decs order no. 13 s 1998 revised rules and regulation on the teaching of religion in public elementary and secondary schools)
2. Naturalism this opposed to idealism. This is the view that the whole of reality is nature.
3. Pragmatism a tendency, movement, or more definite system of thought in which stress is place upon critical consequence and values as standard for explicating philosophic concept, and as a test of truth lies in its practical consequence and that the purpose of conduct. – james – chiller – dewey
4. Supernaturalism has a purpose to educate the individual for his life here on earth and to prepare for the life beyond. Humanism places human being over in above worldly things.
5. Realism universals are independent of antecedent to and more real than the specific individual instances in which they manifest.
6. Progressivism dominated by the technological experimental advancement which have so powerfully shaped our modern culture. (decs order no. 57 s 1998 clarification on the changes in the social studies program, wh for 3rd year and economics for 4th year) (decs order no 91 s. 1998 changes in the the program of the nsec) some important features of progressivism 1. The child as the center of the educational process. 2. It emphasizes learning by doing. Advocates of progressivism john dewey william kilpatrick.
7. Existentialism – puts emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual. – existence precedes, that is, essence is created by existence. – human nature is a product of existence. – holds the view that human existence, or the human situation is the starting point of thinking. It emphasizes concreteness of the individual. – it values the freedom of choice, individual dignity, personal love, and creative effort. (decs order no. 65 s. 1998 revised guidelines on the selection of honor students in secondary level) (decs order no. 10 s. 1998 revised system of rating and reporting of student performance for secondary schools)
   freedom of choice is an important value of existentialism and is determined or affected to a large extent several factors among which are the following:

• Influence of the family especially the parents.
• Influence of peers and associates.
• Religious orientation
• Social approval
• Cultural patterns
• Financial status
• Psychological traits
• Sex
• Health and physical fitness
• Education

8. Positivism – a philosophical movement
   characterized by an emphasis upon science and scientific method as the only source of knowledge.
9. Relativism – a doctrine of relationism or relativity a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the condition of knowing.
10. Materialism – it maintains that all events are not true to the nature of independent reality and that holds that absolutely true knowledge is impossible.
11. Empiricism – it spouses that legitimate human knowledge arises from what is provided to the mind by the senses or by introspective awareness through experience. -hence it believes on education through.
12. Romanticism – it questioned the notions of the enlightenment that had dominated europe in the early 18th century.
13. Epicureanism – philosophical teaching about nature and ethics that was derived from the writing of epicurus. – this philosophy base its knowledge on sense perception, asserting that sensations are invariably good.
14. Hedonism – it centers on pleasure – learning is pleasurable
15. Utilitarianism – it believes that any moral theory that value of human actions, policies, and institutions by their consequences in mens experience or by general welfare of all person affected by them.
16. Communism – disregard basic human rights and educates the young for subservience to the state.
17. Fascism conceives that the state is an absolute.
18. Progressivism – it emphasizes that educational concern must be on the child interest, desires, and the learners freedom as an individual rather than the subject matter.
19. Essentialism – it ascribes ultimate reality to immense embodied in a thing perceptible to the senses.