MPU3193 Module 1

MPU3193
Philosophy and current issues
© 2023 James ChunHan Loi | This publication contains materials adapted from various source materilals which are reproduced purely for educational purposes only.
What is philosophy?
 Philosophy is a way of thinking about
certain subjects such as ethics,
thought, existence, time, meaning and
value.
 That ’way of thinking’ involves
4Rs: responsiveness, reflection, reason
and re-evaluation.
 The aim is to deepen understanding.
 The hope is that by doing philosophy
we learn to think better, to act more
wisely, and thereby help to improve
the quality of all our lives.
philia = love
PHILOSOPHY love of wisdom
sophia = wisdom
Love = strong desire for a particular object
Wisdom = correct application of knowledge
Basic questions in philosophy
 What is the origin of the world of everything that exists?
 Why do these things exist rather than not exist at all?
 Is there God? If so, how can we justify the goodness of God in
the fact of evil?
 What is the meaning and purpose of life? Why do we have to
suffer?
 If one is suffering from an unbearable pain such a cancer, is it
morally right to resort to euthanasia or assisted suicide?
Major branches of philosophy
Metaphysics Epistemology
PHILOSOPHY
Logic Ethics
The four main
branches of
philosophy are
metaphysics,
epistemology,
axiology and logic.
Metaphysics
(the study of reality)
 Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that
considers the physical universe and the nature of
ultimate reality.
 It asks questions like, What is real? What is the origin
of the world? What is beyond the stars?
 Your consideration of reality as an external creation
or an internal construct can influence your meta-
physical beliefs and perspectives and your teaching.
 Regardless of your definition of reality, the
exploration and categorization of the physical
universe form the foundation of several school
subjects.
Some significant questions in
metaphysics
 What kinds of things exist? Do only
particular things exist or do general
things also exist? How is existence
possible? Questions as to identity and
change of objects—are you the same
person you were as a baby? as of
yesterday? as of a moment ago?
 What is spirit? or soul? or matter?
space? Are they made up of the same
sort of “stuff”?
metaphysics
 How do ideas exist if they have no size,
shape, or colour? What is space? What
is time?
 E.g.: Consider the truths of mathematics:
in what manner do geometric figures
exist? Are points, lines, or planes real or
not? Of what are they made?
Epistemology
(the study of knowledge)
Epistemology is the Derived from the Greek word
branch of philosophy episteme, meaning knowledge or
that considers how understanding, epistemology refers
people come to learn to the nature and origin of
what they know. knowledge and truth.
Epistemology proposes that

These influence how
there are four main bases of
teaching, learning, and
knowledge: divine revelation,
understanding come
experience, logic and reason,
about in the classroom.
and intuition.
epistemology
 What is knowledge?
 What can we know for certain?
 How do we know what we know?
 How can we acquire knowledge?
 What is a justified belief, and what
makes it justified?
Axiology
(the study of principles
and values)
 Axiology is the branch of philosophy that
considers the study of principles and
values.
 These values are divided into two main
kinds: ethics and aesthetics.
 Ethics is the questioning of morals and
personal values.
 Aesthetics is the examination of what is
beautiful, enjoyable, or tasteful.
 In axiology, education is more than just
about knowledge but also quality of life.
axiology
1. Nature of value: is value a fulfilment
of desire, a pleasure, a preference, a
behavioural disposition, or simply a
human interest of some kind?
2. Criteria of value: de gustibus non (est)
disputandum (i.e., (“there's no
accounting for tastes”) or do objective
standards apply?
3. Status of value: how are values
related to (scientific) facts? What
ultimate worth, if any, do human
values have?
Logic
(the study of current reasonings)
 Logic is the branch of philosophy that seeks to
organise reasoning. Students of logic learn how
to think in a structurally sound manner.
 Logic has two types: deductive and inductive
reasoning.
 Deductive reasoning involves examining a
general case, deducing a general set of rules or
principles, and then applying these rules to
specific cases.
 Inductive reasoning involves taking specific
examples and considering the general
principles, rules, or cases that caused them.
Deductive reasoning
Deductive reasoning provides
complete evidence of the truth
of its conclusion. It uses a
specific and accurate premise
that leads to a specific and
accurate conclusion. With
correct premises, the conclusion
to this type of argument is
verifiable and correct.
Examples of
deductive reasoning
Premises: All squares are
rectangles. All rectangles have four
sides.
Conclusion: All squares have four
sides.
Premises: All people are mortal.
You are a person.
Conclusion: You are mortal.
Premises: All trees have trunks.
An oak tree is a tree.
Conclusion: The oak tree has
a trunk.
Inductive reasoning
 Inductive reasoning is “bottom up”,
meaning that it takes specific
information and makes a broad
generalisation that is considered
probable, allowing for the fact that the
conclusion may not be accurate.
 This type of reasoning usually involves
a rule being established based on a
series of repeated experiences.
Examples of inductive reasoning
Premises: An umbrella prevents you from getting wet in the rain.
Ashley took her umbrella, and she did not get wet.
Conclusion: In this case, you could use inductive reasoning to offer
an opinion that it was probably raining.
Your conclusion, however, would not necessarily be accurate
because Ashley would have remained dry whether it rained and she
had an umbrella, or it didn’t rain at all.
Premises: Every three-year-old you see at the park each afternoon
spends most of their time crying and screaming.
Conclusion: All three-year-olds must spend their afternoon
screaming.
This would not necessarily be correct, because you haven’t seen
every three-year-old in the world during the afternoon to verify it.
Activity
Brainstorm on how can
the four branches of philosophy
be applied into a subject
or into education.
List out as many points as possible.
National Education Philosophy
“Education in Malaysia is an ongoing efforts towards
further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic
and integrated manner so as to produce individuals who are
intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, physically balanced and
harmonious, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God.
Such an effort is design to produce Malaysian citizens
who are knowledgeable and competent,
who posses high moral standards,
and who are responsible and capable of achieving
a high level of personal well-being as well as being
able to contribute to the betterment of
the family, the society and the nation at large.”
National Education Philosophy – objectives
 To serve as an enlightenment to provide guidance to all efforts
used to develop and improve the national education.
 To provide the policy and basic consideration to determine the
objectives of national education.
 As a reference to help educators to understand the national
education system and provide necessary guidance for
educators to carry out their educational duties.
National Education Philosophy – objectives
 To provide the policy and the basic consideration to plan the
school curriculum, design learning materials and determine
strategies for teaching-learning activities.
 To instruct students who will be able to fulfill their duties as
responsible citizens.
 To produce progressive, skillful and efficient citizens to carry
out the duties productively and satisfactorily so as to contribute
towards the advancement and development of the country.
National Education Philosophy – concepts
 It is a process or activity of clarifying terms, thoughts and
principles that guide education and problem that inhibit
education.
 Consisting of body of concepts, principles and values that
underlining educational practices and then rationalizes current
practices.
 Basically based on the Five National Principles (Ruku Negara).
 To develop a world-class quality education system which will
realize the full potential of the individual and fulfill the
aspiration of the Malaysian nation.
National Education Philosophy – elements
 Education is an on-going effort
 Developmental of individual potential
 Holistic and integrated development of the individual
 Balances and harmonic being
 Intellectual
 Spiritual
 Emotional
 Physical Belief in God and obedience to God
and the four branches of philosophy
 Metaphysics
 Important as the individual potentials and abilities will
developed in a holistic and integrated manner.
 Epistemology
 Important to be able to adapt to the new developments.
 Changes to knowledge and personal skills development life-
long learning emphasis.
 Logic
 Need for good and systematic work procedures.
 As fostering of self-competence.
and the four branches of philosophy
 Axiology
 Role of vertical and horizontal relationship ( individual with
God, others and environment).
 Acceptance of God as the Creator and Almighty.
 The importance of religious and moral teaching.
 Focus on human development.
 Emphasis on personality development.
Group activity
Comparison of Education Philosophies
1. Search for the education philosophy of
another country.
2. Compare the education philosophy of
another country with our national
education policy in Malaysia.
3. List out your comparison in a table
form.
National Principles (Rukun Negara)
 The National Principles was declared on 31 August 1970 to
commemorate the 13th anniversary of the Independence of
Malaysia.
 It was introduced following the May 13 incident in 1969 which
weaken unity among the races in Malaysia.
 It was formed with the main purpose of forming a strong unity.
 The principles contained clearly the key to harmony and unity
for the sake of the success and stability of the country.
The May 13 incident
 On 13 May 1969, three days after general
election, whereby the opposition parties
made gains at the expense of the ruling
coalition, a racial riot occurred in the
nation, mainly in Kuala Lumpur.
 According to government's report, 196
people were killed, while Western
diplomatic sources suggested a toll close
to 600.
 The riot had led to the government
declaring a state of national
emergency in the country and imposing
a nationwide curfew.
National Operations
Council (NOC)
 Following the declaration of
emergency, the NOC was formed and
acted as the administrative body of the
country for the following 18 months.
 With the aim of restoring law and order
in the country, the NOC implemented
various security measures nationwide,
this includes the suspension of
newspaper publications, arresting of
several individuals and the suspension
of certain parts of the constitution.
National Consultative Council
 Formed in January 1970
 Consisted of:
 the ministers of the NOC
 representatives from state
governments
 representatives from political parties
 representatives from press
 representatives from trade unions
 representatives from religious, social
and professional groups in Malaysia
National Consultative Council
 Their tasks:
 to discuss and propose solutions on
issues regarding national unity
 formulating positive and practical
guidelines that encourages national
integration and racial unity
 to build a shared national
identity amongst Malaysians
Ketuhanan
Kesetiaan
A concept known Belief in God or
Loyalty
Supreme Being
as “Pillars of
the Nation” Keadilan Kewarganegaraan
Justice Citizenship
was proposed
and was later
Keutuhan Kebahagiaan
incorporated Integrity of the Nation Well-being
into the National

Principles. Kesopanan
Canons of Decency
The National Principles
(Rukun Negara)
 Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
Belief in God
 Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan negara
Loyalty to the King and country
 Keluhuran Perlembagaan
Supremacy of the Constitution
 Kedaulatan undang-undang
Rule of law
 Kesopanan dan kesusilaan
Good behaviour and morality
Belief in God
 Due to Malaysia being a multiracial and
multicultural country, this is a principles
that is mainly practice by Malaysia’s
community.
 It balances the faith to religion and
avoid controversy because it is a
common belief in different cultural and
ethnics to have faith in God, especially
in a multicultural community.
 This principles is believes to unite
different views without having a dispute
on cultural and religion perspective.
Loyalty to
the King and country
 Malaysia practices a Parliamentary
Democratic System and a
Constitutional Monarchy with His
Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
as Head of State.
 His Majesty the King is symbol of
the unity of the people.
 Loyalty to the King and the country
means that every citizen must
devote full loyalty, honesty and
sincerity to His Majesty the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong.
Supremacy of
the Constitution
 Every country has its own
constitution.
 It functions to solve any probable
dispute and issues within the
society, from the highest level of
society to the common people.
 It is important to ensure the
stability of a country.
 Without the existence of a
constitution, a country is not able to
function based a proper legal
system.
Rule of law
 No one in Malaysia
is above the law.
 Any dispute within
the country is
served to be solved
by referring to the
country’s law.
 This principle serves
to take care of the
nation’s safety,
peace, harmony and
well-being.
Good behaviour
and morality
 This principle focuses on an
individual’s personal growth and
the community well-being.
 It is viewed as a step to maintain
the harmonious life in the
community.
 Individuals are expected to
reflect good behaviour such as
tolerate, respect, politeness and
well-mannered.
The National Principles
(Rukun Negara)
Malaysia nurtures the ambitions of:
 Achieving and fostering better unity
amongst the society;
 Preserving a democratic way of life;
 Creating a just society where the prosperity
of the country can be enjoyed together in a
fair and equitable manner;
 Ensuring a liberal approach towards the rich
and varied cultural traditions;
 Building a progressive society that will make
use of science and modern technology.
Other countries
 Malaysia is not alone in
having such national
principles.
 Neighbouring
Singapore has its
National Pledge.
 Indonesia embodies its
founding principles in
Pancasila, the official
state political
philosophy.
Discussion
1. How do you practice the
national principles in your
daily life?
2. What is the relationship
between our National
Education Philosophy and
National Principles?

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MPU3193

Philosophy and current issues

PHILOSOPHY love of wisdom

Love = strong desire for a particular object

Wisdom = correct application of knowledge

Epistemology proposes that

into the National

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