Abstract
An influential view of constructivism in science and mathematics educational research and practice is that of Ernst von Glasersfeld. It is a peculiarly subjectivist form of constructivism that should not be attractive to science and mathematics educators concerned with retaining some sort of realism that leaves room for objectivity. The subjectivist constructivism of von Glasersfeld also becomes entangled in untenable mind/body and subject/object dualisms. Finally, these dualisms are unnecessary for social constructivism. I will provide one example of a social constructivist alternative to social constructivism, that of the pragmatic philosopher John Dewey. In presenting Dewey's position I will appeal to Ockham's razor, that is, the admonition not to multiply entities beyond necessity, to shave off the needless mentalistic and psychic entities that lead von Glasersfeld into his subjectivism and dualism.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Dewey, John: 1916a, 1980, “The Need For Social Psychology”, in Jo Ann Boydston (ed.), John Dewey: The Middle Works, 1899–1924, Volume 10 (pp. 53-63). Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale and Edwardsville.
Dewey, John: 1916b, 1980, Democracy and Education, in Jo Ann Boydston (ed.), John Dewey: The Middle Works, 1899–1924, Volume 9, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale and Edwardsville.
Dewey, John: 1925, 1981, Experience and Nature, in Jo Ann Boydston (ed.), John Dewey: The Later Works, 1925–1953, Volume 1, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale and Edwardsville.
Dewey, John: 1929, 1984, The Quest for Certainty, in Jo Ann Boydston (ed.), John Dewey: The Later Works, 1925–1953, Volume 4, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale and Edwardsville.
Gardner, H.: 1985, The Mind's New Science, Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, New York.
Glasersfeld, Ernst von: 1989, “Cognition, Construction of Knowledge, and Teaching”, Synthese, 80(1), 121-140.
Glasersfeld, Ernst von: 1992, “Constructivism Reconstructed: A Reply to Suchting”, Science & Education, 1(4), 379-384.
Quine, W. V.: 1969, “Ontological Relativity”, in W. V. Quine, Ontological Relativity and Other Essays (pp. 26-68), Columbia University Press, New York.
Rorty, R.: 1979, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, Princeton, Princeton University Press, N. J.
Suchting, W. A.: 1992, “Constructivism Deconstructed”, Science & Education, 1 (3), 223-254.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garrison, J. An Alternative to Von Glasersfeld's Subjectivism in Science Education: Deweyan Social Constructivism. Science & Education 6, 543–554 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008645503209
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008645503209