[Xmca-l] Re: Leontyev's activities

[Huw Lloyd <huw.softdesigns@gmail.com>]

On 9 August 2013 00:26, Martin Packer <mpacker@uniandes.edu.co> wrote:

> Huw,
>
> I dont know how literally you're using the term, but the notion of
> "operational definition" is very much part of theory of science of logical
> positivism. I don't think you're going to find much of that in Leontyev.
>
> Martin
>
>
I mean simply how the experimental paradigm(s) reflects the concept.

Seems odd to eschew a phrase that yields additional ways of knowing, e.g.
 a working definition, a test based definition, conceptual, etc.

Best,
Huw



>  On Aug 8, 2013, at 4:53 PM, Huw Lloyd <huw.softdesigns@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for these.  They're interesting but I don't think they quite
> answer
> > the question about operational definitions -- i.e. the experimental
> > paradigms used to establish and measure the unit.
> >
> > On p. 364 Leontiev elaborates on an example with a student, in which he
> > states that psychological testing needs to be done in order to find out
> > what the current activity is for the subject.
> >
> > But this does not really bring any bearing onto "the very complex
> > cross-links" (1977) between the individual and society.
> >
> > I am guessing that he uses leading activity as the means for setting the
> > scope of societal practices for revealing the formation of new motives
> etc.
> >
> > I am partially interested in this for observing how the object is
> > demonstrated objectively, and the relation of complex motives (e.g. doing
> > work in an ethical way) to notions of a "single basis of development".
> >
> > Best,
> > Huw
> >
> > On 7 August 2013 22:14, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Leontyev says that an activity is defined by its motive.
> >> See "The Development of Mind," Leontyev 2009, p. 28-29
> >> http://www.erythrospress.com/**store/leontyev.html<
> http://www.erythrospress.com/store/leontyev.html>
> >>
> >> But Leontyev, in my opinion, does not adequately distinguish between "an
> >> activity" and "a type of activity," leading to confusion on this point.
> >> Plus the fact that the object or motive is given externally to the
> >> activity, underming his claim to have created an activity theory, rather
> >> than a theory of human needs.
> >>
> >> Andy
> >> ------------------------------**-
> >>
> >> The specific processes that realise some vital, i.e. active, relation of
> >> the subject to reality we shall term processes of /activity/, in
> >> distinction to other processes.
>
>
>