Purpose: This is an attempt to define constructivism in a pluralistic way. It categorizes constructivist work within a three-dimensional space rather than along one dimension only. Practical implications: The interdisciplinary definition makes it possible to perceive the rather heterogeneous constructivist community as a coherent and largely consistent scientific effort to provide answers to demanding complex problems. Furthermore it gives authors of Constructivist Foundation the opportunity to locate their own position within the community. Conclusion: I offer a catalogue of ten points that outline the constructivist program. Each of these aspects invites authors to extensively reflect on it and to approach it from their disciplinary background to do work in any of the types of investigations the journal covers.
This is the editorial I wrote for the journal Constructivist Foundations to provide it with the appropriate argumentative basis needed to define constructivism in a pluralistic way. It categorizes constructivist work within a three-dimensional space: 1. The disciplines involved, ranging from physics to biology to education, 2. The approach reflecting the large number of constructivist approaches that have been developed by philosophers and scientists without necessarily paying much attention to historical or contemporary parallels.
Similar publications: