Integrating Spirituality in Philosophy Courses for Cultivating Civilizational Values

The study focuses on incorporating spirituality, defined as meaning, purpose, and values, into the teaching of philosophy courses in Malaysian public universities. It aims to address the declining interest in philosophy by demonstrating its practical relevance through a spiritual lens. The objective of this study is to evaluate how spirituality can enrich the teaching and learning philosophy course, fostering a more holistic educational experience and to address educational gaps by nurturing students' spiritual dimensions alongside intellectual growth, aligning with Malaysia's National Education Philosophy. The study employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. For a qualitative approach, an inquiry strategy was used to assess the construct of spirituality in teaching philosophy. As for the quantitative approach, multiple-item measures, including the Purpose in Life Test (PIL), were used to quantitatively evaluate the impact of spirituality on students' learning experiences. The study reveals that integrating spirituality into the philosophy course significantly enhances students' cognitive and social engagement, leading to a deeper understanding of philosophical concepts. The study underscores the importance of nurturing students' spiritual dimensions alongside intellectual growth, aligning with Malaysia's National Education Philosophy that aims to produce balanced individuals. The study emphasizes the critical role of spirituality in education, particularly in philosophy, and provides a framework for enhancing teaching practices in Malaysian public universities. By incorporating spirituality into the course, the research aims to address the declining interest in philosophy and foster a more holistic and meaningful educational experience for students.