Re: What collective historical theory?

From: Paul H.Dillon (illonph@pacbell.net)
Date: Wed May 09 2001 - 14:21:32 PDT


Bill,

I guess that just doesn't satisfy me since it remains circular. The
"cultural evolution of learning" depends on some theory of cultural
evolution. That is what is missing. What is it?

Paul H. Dillon

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Barowy <wbarowy@lesley.edu>
To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: What collective historical theory?

> It is in chapter 2.
>
> " I maintain that with the help of this model activity can be analyzed in
its inner dynamic relations and historical change. However, this claim must
be substantiated by using and transforming the model in the analysis of the
development of concrete activities. In this chapter, the cultural evolution
of learning will serve as such a developmental problem." (YE)
>
> bb
>
>
> >Bill,
> >
> >It seems that metaphor has overtaken model. I am unsure as to what the
theory or model of collective development in LBE is? A movement toward
complexity? I have the feeling, I could be wrong, that you don't accept
the marxist theory of social evolution that guided Vygotsky and Luria's
thinking. It has always seemed to me that many of the more frequent
contributors here reject the notion of social development in general. We
all accept that the human organism grows up and goes through a series of
transformations on the way to acquiring competence as a fully functioning
member of society (even if we don't call that development). Your original
statement about the tension between collective and individual process
presumes something similar for the social. What is it?
> >
> >Paul H. Dillon
> >
> > "It seems ridiculous to me to attempt to study society as a mere
observer. He who wishes only to observe will observe nothing, for as he is
useless in actual work and a nuisance in recreations, he is admitted to
neither. We observe the actions of others only to the extent to which we
ourselves act." - Jean Jacque Rousseau
> >
> >
> >"For fools rather admire and delight in all things which they see hid
under inversions and intricacies of words, and consider those assertions to
be truths which have power to touch the ear agreeably, and which are
disguised with the pleasantness of sound." - Titus Lucretius Carus
>
> --
> Bill Barowy, Associate Professor
> Lesley University
> 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-2790
> Phone: 617-349-8168 / Fax: 617-349-8169
> http://www.lesley.edu/faculty/wbarowy/Barowy.html
> _______________________
> "One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself
> and watch yourself softly become the author of something beautiful."
> [Norman Maclean in "A river runs through it."]
>



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