The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible

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| Editors: Vlad Petre Glăveanu (Editor-in-Chief), Vlad Petre Glăveanu

Perspective

Living reference work entry

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98390-5_18-2
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Abstract

This entry focuses on the notion of perspective as it is used in philosophy and psychology. From a pragmatist standpoint, I conceptualize perspectives as action-based relations with the world and, in doing so, respond to both accusations of skepticism and relativism usually addressed to perspectival accounts of knowledge, truth, and reality. In fact, following Mead’s perspectival realism, I propose here that perspectives orient our thinking and action and, through this, help us discover new possibilities for both. After a brief introduction that discusses different meanings of the word perspective, I move on to describe an action-based account of perspectives and, with its help, review some important debates around perspectivism as a school of thought. In the end, the entry briefly outlines a perspectival theory of the possible that not only considers perspectives essential for our behavior and knowledge but also indispensable for becoming aware of and exploring new possibilities.

Keywords

Perspective Perspectivism Position Action Pragmatism Possibility 
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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Psychology and CounselingWebster University GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
  2. 2.Center for the Science of Learning and Technology (SLATE), University of BergenBergenNorway

Section editors and affiliations

  • Samira Bourgeois-Bougrine

There are no affiliations available