Cognitive individualism and the child as scientist program
Author
Wringe, B.
Date
2011Source Title
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Print ISSN
1369-8486
Volume
42
Issue
4
Pages
518 - 529
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
119
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86
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Abstract
In this paper, I examine the charge that Gopnik and Meltzoff's 'Child as Scientist' program, outlined and defended in their 1997 book Words, Thoughts and Theories is vitiated by a form of 'cognitive individualism' about science. Although this charge has often been leveled at Gopnik and Meltzoff's work, it has rarely been developed in any detail.I suggest that we should distinguish between two forms of cognitive individualism which I refer to as 'ontic' and 'epistemic' cognitive individualism (OCI and ECI respectively). I then argue - contra Ronald Giere - that Gopnik and Meltzoff's commitment to OCI is relatively unproblematic, since it is an easily detachable part of their view. By contrast, and despite their explicit discussion of the issue, their commitment to ECI is much more problematic.
Keywords
Child as scientistCognitive individualism
Gopnik
Kitcher
Meltzoff
Philosophy of developmental psychology
child development
child psychology
cognition
history
human
individuality
knowledge
science
thinking
Child
Child Development
Child Psychology
Cognition
History, 20th Century
Humans
Individuality
Knowledge
Science
Thinking
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/11693/21665Published Version (Please cite this version)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2011.06.003Collections
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