From Philosophical Concepts to Pedagogical Realities: Reconceptualizing the Meanings of Philosophy of Education with an Emphasis on the Philosophical-Educational Continuum


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 29 August 2026

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Member of Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract
The history of educational thought—spanning from the foundational efforts of great educators to the modern policymaking of contemporary educational systems—testifies to the fact that the realm of education has always been a domain of continuous action and reaction. Within the field of educational sciences, one of the most striking manifestations of the rift between theoretical spheres and practical dimensions is found in our understanding of the philosophy of education. For scholars in this discipline, a fundamental question persistently arises: What is the actual position of the philosophy of education within the field of practice, and how can it meaningfully contribute to the lived realities of schools and classrooms? A central challenge in the philosophy of education is delineating its precise role within the educational process. Utilizing a conceptual analysis approach, this article aims to reconceptualize the various interpretations of the philosophy of education. The primary inquiry examines whether the classical dichotomy—comprising the official-public philosophy of the educational system and the teacher’s personal philosophy—is sufficient to manifest philosophy within the actual flow of education. The article argues that while this duality is necessary, it remains insufficient; official philosophy operates at high levels of abstraction and holism, whereas the teacher’s personal philosophy, shaped by intense individual contexts, is often distanced from collective dialogue and dialectics. Consequently, these two domains function as isolated enclaves, detached from the authentic lifeworld of education. To bridge these gaps, this study proposes two novel concepts: "School Philosophy" and "Classroom Philosophy." Together with the traditional meanings, these are synthesized into a "Philosophical-Educational Continuum." Drawing on the perspectives of John Dewey, Paulo Freire, and Maxine Greene, the article demonstrates how this continuum, by establishing relational links between these concepts, can effectively bridge the gap between theory and practice. Ultimately, the proposed "Four-fold Philosophical-Pedagogical Continuum" posits that transformative and goal-oriented educational reform is contingent upon "strategic empathy" across these four levels. In this context, strategic empathy refers to the pursuit of shared meaning and profound conceptual resonance. By fostering cohesion and continuity among these four layers, we can create the necessary conditions for philosophy to truly manifest within the pedagogical arena.

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