Cognitive individualism and the child as scientist program

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Cognitive individualism and the child as scientist program.pdf (243.49 KB)

Date

2011

Authors

Wringe, B.

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Source Title

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science

Print ISSN

1369-8486

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Volume

42

Issue

4

Pages

518 - 529

Language

English

Type

Article

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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.

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Keywords

Child as scientist , Cognitive 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

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http://hdl.handle.net/11693/21665

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsc.2011.06.003

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Department of Philosophy