Top 9 Great Definition of Education

Top 9 Great Definition of Education 

Education is the basic tool of human development. Development of innate abilities, increment in knowledge & arts and behavioral changes are brought about in humans by education only and he is made a civilized, cultured and able citizen. This work starts at the birth of a child only. Soon after birth, parents start teaching him hearing and speaking. When child grows little, then he is taught to sit, move, eat and social behavioral norms. At the age of 3–4 years, child starts to read and at this very age, he is sent to school. In school, his education goes on in organized way. Apart from school, he also learns at home and in community and the process of learning and teaching keeps going even after school and for the whole life. If we watch in detail, then in any society this process keeps functioning always. In its real sense, the permanent process of learning and teaching in any society is called education. If we look at it from application point of view, then it has two applications- one is in the form of process and second is the result of that process. When we say that his education is going on fine, then education means process here. When we say that he has received higher education, then it is the result. But modern academicians accept education as a process only. They are of the view that in any process, result is inherent. At present, result of education process is expressed in the form of knowledge, ability and behavioral change. Basic role in the education process to explain the format of the philosophers, sociologist, politician, philosophers, economists, psychologists and scientists have played and everyone saw their approaches to education-at the end and defined. Here we present a brief description of all of these approaches piece by understanding the nature of education based on facts and will attempt to define it.

Definition of Education 

Centre of thought of philosophers is human. They try to know the actual nature of humans and findfi nal objective of human life. To define the path of last destination of human life also is the interest area of philosophers and they consider education to be essential for the knowledge and development for all this. Thus, education is the tool of attaining final objective of human life. Since, there are different views amongst philosophers about final objective of human life, there are differences in the definition of education too. Spiritual philosophers give more importance to super natural life to physical life. Vedanta followers want to get rid of this physical life forever. They call it salvation. 

As per Jagatguru Shankaracharya— Education is That Which Gets Salvation. (Sah: Vidya Ya Vimuktye- Shankaracharya)

Indian intellectual Swami Vivekananda considered human as complete from birth and emphasized on letting him realize this totality with help of education. In his words— Education is manifestation of perfection inherent in human. —Swami Vivekananda

Epoch personality Mahatma Gandhi has given equal importance to body, mind and soul. In his words—  By education I mean an all round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit. —Mahatma Gandhi 

Greek philosopher Plato also accepted the importance of body and soul. As per him— Education consists in giving to the body and soul all the perfection to which they are susceptible. —Plato 

Disciple of Plato, Aristotle stressed on the physical and mental development of human. He believed that only with right development of body and mind, one can feel the soul. He defined education as following— Education is the creation of a sound mind in a sound body—Aristotle 

Materialistic philosophers only consider physical life as truth. As per them, final objective of human life is to lead a happy life and it is imperative that human should be healthy from body and mind and be equipped with resources of organic consumption. They want to perform this job by education. As per materialistic philosophers— Education is that which enables human to lead a happy and content life. Naturalistic philosophers of western world too are in favor of attaining materialistic happiness. 

As per them, it is possible when human establishes synergy between internal and external environment. As per Herbert Spencer— Education means establishment of synergy between inherent powers and external life —Herbert Spencer. 

There is dominance of philosophers in western world, who look at human life in the same perspective, in which it appears. Followers of Objectivity consider humans as a social creature and believe that humans should try to bring in appropriate changes in the society and power to construct the future of the society though education. 

In words of philosopher John Dewey-education is the development of all those capabilities in the individual which enables it to control its environment and fulfill it desires— John Dewey

Education is a natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s innate powers—Pestalozzi 

Disciple of Pestalozzi, Froebel has defi ed education as following— Education is a process by which a child expresses its internal to external —Froebel

Conclusion 

Different philosophers, sociologist, politicians, economists, psychologists and scientists have different views on education. If we look into detail, then it would be clear that they are confined to which particular area. Today while interpreting education, we select facts from perspective of all of them. It is called Eclectic Tendency in academic world. The fact emerges from all of these perspectives about nature of education that education is purposive, social, continuous, dynamic and development process. As regards its functions it appears that it develops innate powers, skill sets and brings about change in its behavior and thus it makes them civilized, cultured and able citizens. But, whatever definitions we have seen till now, have two demerits- fist is that, it does not tell about the nature of process of education; second that these emphasize on only one specific objective of education. This is the reason; these have not been able to be universal definitions. 

Appropriate definition of education would be such that tells us about both nature and function of education process. From this perspective, education should be defined as following— 

"Education is such continuous purposive social activity which develops innate powers; skill sets of human being and brings about change in its behavior, so that they could become civilized, cultured and able citizens. With it, both individual and society grow continually."

 This definition of education is comprehensive in itself. It reflects nature of education (that it is purposive, social, continuous, dynamic and development process) and its functions (that it develops innate powers and skill set and brings about change in human behavior and thus he is made civilized, cultured and able citizen) both. Objectives and functions of any society’s education are inherent in making its people civilized, cultured and able. Hence, this definition should be acceptable to all.