Volume 1 · Number 1 ·
Pages 1–8
Editorial. The Constructivist Challenge
Log in to download the full text for free
Abstract
Purpose: This is an attempt to define constructivism in a pluralistic way. It categorizes constructivist work within a three-dimensional space rather than along one dimension only. Practical implications: The interdisciplinary definition makes it possible to perceive the rather heterogeneous constructivist community as a coherent and largely consistent scientific effort to provide answers to demanding complex problems. Furthermore it gives authors of Constructivist Foundation the opportunity to locate their own position within the community. Conclusion: I offer a catalogue of ten points that outline the constructivist program. Each of these aspects invites authors to extensively reflect on it and to approach it from their disciplinary background to do work in any of the types of investigations the journal covers.
Key words: constructivist approaches, interdisciplinarity, dogmatism
Citation
Riegler A. (2005) Editorial. The constructivist challenge. Constructivist Foundations 1(1): 1–8. http://constructivist.info/1/1/001
Export article citation data: Plain Text · BibTex · EndNote · Reference Manager (RIS)
Similar articles
References
Ashby W. R. (1956) Introduction to cybernetics. Methuen, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Bach-y-Rita P. (1972) Brain mechanisms in sensory substitution. Academic Press, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Carnap R. (1928) Der logische Aufbau der Welt. Felix Meiner Verlag: Leipzig. English translation: Carnap R. (1967) The logical structure of the world. Pseudoproblems in philosophy. University of California, Berkeley. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Carnap R. (1935) Philosophy and logical syntax. Kegan Paul, London. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Diettrich O. (2001) A physical approach to the construction of cognition and to cognitive evolution. Foundation of Science 6: 273–341. https://cepa.info/4500
Drescher G. L. (1991) Made-up minds: A constructivist approach to artificial intelligence. MIT Press, Cambridge MA. https://cepa.info/5784
Duncker K. (1945) On problem solving. Psychological Monographs 58: 1–112. German original published in 1935. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Foerster H. von (1973/2003) On constructing a reality. In: F. E. Preiser (ed.) Environmental design research, Vol. 2. Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Stroudberg: 35–46. Reprinted in: Foerster H. von (2003) Understanding understanding. Springer-Verlag, New York: 211–228. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Foerster H. von (1991/2003) Ethics and second-order cybernetics. In: Inderstanding understanding. French original published in 1991 in: Ray Y. & Prieur B. (eds.) Système, ethique. Perspectives en thérapie familiale. ESF editeur, Paris: 41–55. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Gergen K. J. (1997) Social theory in context: Relational humanism. In: Greenwood J. (ed.) The mark of the social. Rowman and Littlefield, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Glasersfeld E. von (1984) An introduction to radical constructivism. In: Watzlawick P. (ed.) The invented reality: How do we know? W. W. Norton, New York: 17–40. https://cepa.info/1279
Glasersfeld E. von (1985) Declaration of the American Society for Cybernetics (Annual Meeting of the ACS 1981) American Society of Cybernetics Newsletter 24: 1–4. Reprinted as: Glasersfeld E. von (1992) Cybernetics In: Negoita C. V. (ed.) Cybernetics and applied systems. Marcel Decker, New York: 1–5. Available at http://www.vonglasersfeld.com/065
Glasersfeld E. von (1991) Knowing without metaphysics: Aspects of the radical constructivist position. In: Steier F. (ed.) Research and reflexivity. Sage Publications, London: 12–29. https://cepa.info/1420
Glasersfeld E. von (1992) Questions and answers about radical constructivism. In: Pearsall M. K. (ed.) Scope, sequence, and coordination of secondary school science, Vol. II: Relevant research. The National Science Teachers Association, Washington DC: 169–182. https://cepa.info/1439
Glasersfeld E. von (1995) Radical constructivism. A way of knowing and learning. The Falmer Press, London. https://cepa.info/1340
Grössing G. (2001) Comparing the long-term evolution of “cognitive invariances” in physics with a dynamics in states of consciousness. Foundation of Science 6: 255–272. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Harel I. & Papert S. (eds.) (1991) Constructionism. Ablex, Norwood. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Haynes J.-D., Roth G., Schwegler H. & Stadler M. (1998) Die funktionale Rolle des bewußt Erlebten [The functional role of conscious experience]. Gestalt Theory 20: 186–213. https://cepa.info/4806
Heyting A. (ed.) (1975) L. E. J. Brouwer, Collected works 1. Philosophy and foundations of mathematics. Elsevier, Amsterdam. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Janich P. (1996) Konstruktivismus und Naturerkenntnis. Auf dem Weg zum Kulturalismus [Constructivism and the knowledge of nature: On the path to culturalism]. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Kamlah W. & Lorenzen P. (1984) Logical Propaedeutic: Pre-School of Reasonable Discourse. University Press of America: Lanham. German original “Logische Propädeutik. Vorschule des vernünftigen Redens” appeared in 1967. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Kelly G. (1963) A theory of personality. Norton, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Krohn W. (1997) Rekursive Lernprozesse: Experimentelle Praktiken in der Gesellschaft. Das Beispiel der Abfallwirtschaft. In: Werner Rammert W. & Bechmann G. (eds.) Technik und Gesellschaft. Jahrbuch 9: Innovation – Prozesse, Produkte, Politik. Campus, Frankfurt: S. 65–89. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Llinás, R. R. (2001) I of the vortex. MIT Press, Cambridge. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Lorenzen P. (1987) Constructive philosophy. The University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Luhmann N. (1994) Die Wissenschaft der Gesellschaft. Second edition. [The science of society]. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Luhmann N. (1995) Social systems. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto. German original published in 1984 as: Soziale Systeme. Grundrifl einer allgemeinen Theorie. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
MacKay D. M. (1969) Information, mechanism and meaning. MIT Press, Cambridge MA. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Maturana H. & Varela F. (1979) Autopoiesis and cognition. Reidel, Boston. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Maturana H. R. (1978) Biology of language: The epistemology of reality. In: Miller G. A. & Lenneberg E. (eds.) Psychology and biology of language and thought: Essays in honor of Eric Lenneberg. Academic Press, New York: 27–63. https://cepa.info/549
Mitterer J. (1992) Das Jenseits der Philosophie. Wider das dualistische Erkenntnisprinzip.. Passagen Verlag, Vienna. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Mitterer J. (2001) Die Flucht aus der Beliebigkeit. Fischer, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Müller H. F. J. (2000) Concept-dynamics and the mind-brain question. Karl Jaspers Forum TA32. http://www.kjf.ca/kjf/32-TAMUL.htm ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Neisser U. (1975) Cognition and reality. Freeman, San Francisco. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
O’Regan J. K. & Noë, A. (2001) What it is like to see: A sensorimotor theory of perceptual experience. Synthese 129: 79–103. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Pask G. (1975) Conversation, cognition, and learning. Elsevier, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Peschl M. & Riegler A. (1999) Does representation need reality? In: Riegler A., Peschl M. & Stein A. v. (eds.) (1999) Understanding representation in the cognitive sciences. Plenum Press, New York: 9–17. https://cepa.info/2419
Piaget J. (1937) La construction du réel chez l’enfant. Délachaux & Niestlé: Neuchâtel. English translation: Piaget J. (1954) The construction of reality in the child. Ballantine, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Pias C. (ed,) (2003) Cybernetics | Kybernetik. The Macy-Conferences 1946–1953. Volume 1 Transactions/Protokolle. Diaphanes: Zürich, Berlin. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Prinz W. (1997) Explaining voluntary action: The role of mental content. In: Carrier M. & Machamer P. (eds.) Mindscapes: Philosophy, science, and the mind. Universitätsverlag, Konstanz: 153–175. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Quartz S. & Sejnowski T. J. (1997) The neural basis of cognitive development: A constructivist manifesto. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 20: 537–596. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Riegler A. (1998) The end of science: Can we overcome cognitive limitations? Evolution & Cognition 4: 37–50. https://cepa.info/4209
Riegler A. (2001) The cognitive ratchet. the ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition. Cybernetics and Systems 32: 411–427. https://constructivist.info/riegler/14
Riegler A. (2001) Towards a radical constructivist understanding of science. Foundations of Science, special issue on “The impact of radical constructivism on science” 6: 1–30. https://cepa.info/1860
Riegler A. (2003) Whose anticipations? In: Butz M., Sigaud O., and Gerard P. (eds.) Anticipatory behavior in adaptive learning systems: foundations, theories, and systems. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence. Springer-Verlag, New York: 11–22. https://cepa.info/4130
Riegler A. (ed.) (2005) Heinz von Foerster – in memoriam. Kybernetes 34. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Rusch G. (1987) Erkenntnis, Wissenschaft, Geschichte. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Schmidt S. J. (ed.) (1987) Der Diskurs des Radikalen Konstruktivismus. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Schwegler H. (2001) Physics develops unaffected by constructivism. Foundations of Science, special issue on “The Impact of Radical Constructivism on Science” 6: 241–253. https://cepa.info/3633
Scott B. (2001) Gordon Pask’s conversation theory: A domain independent constructivist model of human knowing. Foundations of Science 6: 343–360. https://cepa.info/1806
Spivey N. N. (1997) The constructivist metaphor: Reading, writing, and the making of meaning. Academic Press, San Diego. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Steffe L. & Gale J. (eds.) (1995) Constructivism in education. Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale NJ. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Vaihinger H. (1952) The philosophy of “as if” (Translated by C. K. Ogden). Routledge, London. German original published in 1911 as “Philosophie des Als-Ob.” ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Van Bendegem J. P. (1999) Why the largest number imaginable is still a finite number. Logique et Analyse 42: 107–126. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Varela F. J., Thompson E. & Rosch E. (1991) The embodied mind: Cognitive science and human experience. MIT Press, Cambridge MA. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Watzlawick P., Weakland J. & Fisch R. (1974) Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution. W. W. Norton, New York. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Weaver W. (1948) Science and complexity. American Scientist 36: 536–544. https://cepa.info/5916
Weber S. (2005) Non-dualistische Medientheorie. Eine philosophische Grundlegung. UVK, Konstanz. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Westermann G. (2000) Constructivist neural network models of cognitive development. PhD thesis at the University of Edinburgh. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Winograd T. & Flores F. (1986) Understanding computers and cognition: A new foundation for design. Ablex: Norwood, NJ. ▸︎ Google︎ Scholar
Comments: 0
To stay informed about comments to this publication and post comments yourself, please log in first.