Piaget Versus Materialism: A Concordance of the Discordance.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Piaget Versus Materialism: A Concordance of the Discordance.
Language: English
Authors: Burger, Henry G.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 77
Publication Date: 1982
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Adolescent Development, Child Development, Cultural Influences, Developmental Stages, Environmental Influences, Epistemology, Intellectual Development, Social Influences
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to disconfirm Piaget's theory of an invariant sequence of intellectual maturation for all youths in all cultures. The author's view is that the kinds and sequences of human development vary greatly, depending on the cultural milieu. The author derives 36 propositions from Piaget's theory, dismisses 5 of them as definitional and therefore not subject to testing, then uses evidence taken from 173 reports on 49 cultures to disconfirm the remaining 31 propositions in whole or in part. For example, Piaget claims that preconceptual categorizing arises between the ages of 21 and 48 months. The author cites counter examples, such as the Hottentot child that is taught by its mother to identify and gather edible roots, wild honey, lizards, and mice as soon as it can stand. Another proposition, stating that intellect peaks in logic and mathematics, is criticized as European-centered and in conflict with the higher regard in which tradition and experience are held in many cultures. The author's own theory of cultural materialism, which stresses the importance of various cultural influences rather than a genetically-determined sequence of intellectual development, is not elaborated here. The author notes that Piaget recognizes the existence of culture, but characterizes Piaget as using the concept of culture as a mere dumping ground for contrary evidence. (IM)
Entry Date: 1982
Accession Number: ED219298
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED219298
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Piaget Versus Materialism: A Concordance of the Discordance.
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burger%2C+Henry+G%2E%22">Burger, Henry G.</searchLink>
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 77
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1982
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescent+Development%22">Adolescent Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Stages%22">Developmental Stages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Influences%22">Environmental Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epistemology%22">Epistemology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+Development%22">Intellectual Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Influences%22">Social Influences</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The purpose of this paper is to disconfirm Piaget's theory of an invariant sequence of intellectual maturation for all youths in all cultures. The author's view is that the kinds and sequences of human development vary greatly, depending on the cultural milieu. The author derives 36 propositions from Piaget's theory, dismisses 5 of them as definitional and therefore not subject to testing, then uses evidence taken from 173 reports on 49 cultures to disconfirm the remaining 31 propositions in whole or in part. For example, Piaget claims that preconceptual categorizing arises between the ages of 21 and 48 months. The author cites counter examples, such as the Hottentot child that is taught by its mother to identify and gather edible roots, wild honey, lizards, and mice as soon as it can stand. Another proposition, stating that intellect peaks in logic and mathematics, is criticized as European-centered and in conflict with the higher regard in which tradition and experience are held in many cultures. The author's own theory of cultural materialism, which stresses the importance of various cultural influences rather than a genetically-determined sequence of intellectual development, is not elaborated here. The author notes that Piaget recognizes the existence of culture, but characterizes Piaget as using the concept of culture as a mere dumping ground for contrary evidence. (IM)
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 1982
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED219298
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED219298
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 77
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Adolescent Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developmental Stages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Epistemology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intellectual Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Influences
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Piaget Versus Materialism: A Concordance of the Discordance.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Burger, Henry G.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 1982
ResultId 1