Philosophical Foundations of Critical Reflection in the Teaching-Learning Process

Critical reflection in education is not just a classroom technique—it is the culmination of centuries of philosophical thought. The journey from broad life philosophies to focused teaching strategies reveals how ideas about wisdom, democracy, and interpretation have gradually shaped the way teachers and learners engage with knowledge.

Imagine reflective practice as a funnel. At the wide opening, we find philosophers who explored reflection as a way of living wisely and ethically. As the funnel narrows, their insights are distilled into educational theories. Finally, at the narrow end, reflection becomes a practical tool for teachers in the classroom.

Broad Philosophical Foundations

• Aristotle – Practical Wisdom (Phronesis): Reflection begins as ethical judgment in action, helping us balance theory with lived experience.
• Dewey – Reflective Intelligence for Democratic Learning: Reflection becomes inquiry, encouraging learners to think critically and participate in democratic problem-solving.
• Gadamer – Interpretive Judgement: Reflection is dialogue, emphasizing interpretation and meaning-making in professional contexts.
• Habermas – Critical Reflection: Reflection challenges norms and power structures, making learning emancipatory and socially aware.

These thinkers remind us that reflection is not limited to teaching—it is a way of engaging with life itself.

Transition Toward Education

As reflection moves closer to the classroom, it takes on a more pedagogical focus:

• Kolb – Experiential Learning Cycle: Reflection becomes part of a cycle—experience, observation, conceptualization, and experimentation.
• Carr – Teacher-Centered Critical Reflection: Reflection empowers teachers to critique their own practices and the systems they work within.

Here, reflection shifts from philosophy to applied educational theory, guiding how teachers and learners interact with knowledge.

Focused Pedagogical Strategies

At the narrowest end of the funnel, reflection becomes directly actionable in teaching practice:

• Schön – Reflection-in-Action and On-Action: Teachers reflect during teaching (in-action) and after teaching (on-action), continuously refining their methods.

This is where reflection becomes a critical tool for professional growth, allowing teachers to adapt, critique, and transform their practice in real time. The funnel metaphor shows us that critical reflection in teaching is deeply rooted in philosophy. It is not an isolated skill, but a practice shaped by centuries of thought: From wisdom and ethics (Aristotle) to democracy and inquiry (Dewey), to interpret and critique (Gadamer, Habermas), to learning cycles and professional practice (Kolb, Carr, Schön).

By tracing this lineage, we see that reflection in education is both a philosophical stance and a pedagogical necessity.

Critical reflection in the teaching-learning process is more than looking back on what worked or didn’t. It is about carrying forward the wisdom of philosophers, the insights of educational theorists, and the practical strategies of reflective practitioners. In doing so, teachers not only refine their methods but also honor a tradition that connects life philosophy with classroom pedagogy.

Reference:
Limbu, S. Critical reflection on fostering multidisciplinary competencies and addressing challenges in secondary education. Discov Educ (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-026-01101-z