The Place of Philosophy of Education and Human Nature in Security Management and National Development

Abstract

One of the several purposes of education is the acquisition of knowledge required to refine 
man in terms of behaviour and attitudes.Educational process has as one of its focuses, the 
affective domain, which is expected to influence man?s attitudes, behaviour and character. 
Several works had been carried out on attitudes of man but not many had been done in the 
aspect of human nature as a factor that can influence moral behaviours. Philosophy comes 
handy in the inculcation of right moral actions as its component of axiology, through the 
aspect of ethics, encourages cultivation of right and good attitudes in interpersonal relations 
to guarantee security and development of the society. In ensuring this, understanding the 
nature of man as one of the contents of Philosophy of Education becomes expedient in order 
to find out good approaches by which the process of education can build right moral attitudes 
and actions in man for the purpose of securing and developing the society.This paper 
attempts to examine in a philosophical discourse, the place of human nature in cultivating 
right moral attitudes.It discusses concepts like hedonism, rationalism and virtue.This isto 
justify the essence of educational process as an instrument per excellence to achieve security 
and development aspirations of the society.The paper recommends among several others the 
need to structure contents of each lesson in the classrooms towards acquisition of 
appropriate social values and virtues that can enable learners become rational in their 
decision making. It also suggested that a philosophical understanding of the nature of man 
will enable teachers as well as school counsellors to be more effective in their professional 
responsibilities.The paper concludes by stating that an understanding of the nature of man 
and its philosophical implications will enable educators practice their profession efficiently 
to attain society?s desired goals of secured and developed environment