Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Science Education)
Vol. 14 No. 1: JANUARY 2026

Philosophical Framing in the Classroom: How Science Teachers Deconstruct the Nuclear Energy Debate

Dindin Nasrudin (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
Chaerul Rochman (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
Wahyuni Handayani (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
Irawan (Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Gunung Djati, Indonesia)
Sani Insan Muhammadi (University of Sydney, Australia)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Jan 2026

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study investigates how physics teachers philosophically frame the nuclear energy debate in their pedagogical practice. Conducted with five Indonesian physics teachers pursuing graduate studies in science education, the research employed in-depth interviews and document analysis to explore how teachers utilize philosophical frameworks to navigate this complex socio-scientific issue. The findings reveal that teachers systematically employ core concepts from the philosophy of science—including Popperian demarcation, Kuhnian paradigms, and theory-ladenness of observation—to deconstruct the nuclear energy controversy. Their philosophical understanding enables them to transcend technical risk-benefit analyses and instead frame nuclear energy as a dynamic, value-laden, and socially-embedded domain of knowledge. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how teachers translate these philosophical frameworks into innovative pedagogical strategies, particularly through Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Inquiry Learning, and structured evidence-based debates that engage students in authentic scientific inquiry and critical reflection. This research underscores the vital role of philosophy of science in empowering educators to transform controversial topics into meaningful learning experiences that develop students' critical thinking skills and scientific literacy. The study contributes to science teacher education by highlighting how philosophical literacy enhances teachers' capacity to foster democratic discourse around complex technological issues in the classroom.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jpsi

Publisher

Subject

Description

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Science Education) or JPSI is an international journal dedicated to studying and exploring various matters related to science education, especially technological developments in the field of science based on ethnoscience and local wisdom. JPSI ...