Re: All the way with Piaget (fwd)

Dewey Dykstra, Jr. (dykstrad who-is-at bsumail.idbsu.edu)
Thu, 7 May 1998 21:20:55 -0600

>Does this mean that in radical constructivism there is no 'out there' that can
>be known separable from what is 'NOT OF things out there?' And, if yes or no,
>could you explain and/or provide a reference to a radical constructivist
>source
>from which you speak? I find that I have been using the term much too loosely
>and I appreciate your clarifications.
>
>M. Freeman

Molly,
No. It neither makes sense to me nor does it appear in those who make the
best sense to me to say there is no "out there". Radical constructivism is
not absolute solipsism warmed over. For a quick reference off the top of
my head, look at von Glasersfeld' chapter in The Invented Reality. Paul
Watzlawick (ed) Norton Press (1984??) titled "Introduction to Radical
Constructivism" and possibly the following chapter by von Foerster in the
same book.

I will try to expand on this a little, but no time now. Thanks. I'm glad
my attempts have helped some so far.

Dewey

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Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr. Phone: (208)385-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)385-3775
Department of Physics/MCF421/418 Fax: (208)385-4330
Boise State University dykstrad who-is-at bsumail.idbsu.edu
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper

"Physical concepts are the free creations of the human mind and
are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external
world."--A. Einstein in The Evolution of Physics with L. Infeld,
1938.
"Every [person's] world picture is and always remains a construct
of [their] mind and cannot be proved to have any other existence."
--E. Schrodinger in Mind and Matter, 1958.
"Don't mistake your watermelon for the universe." --K. Amdahl in
There Are No Electrons, 1991.
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