Epistemological Questions for a Speculative Pragmatist

A pragmatist theory of learning

This paper suggests that Peirce’s pragmatism might be a more suitable underpinning of educational research than the currently prevailing constructivism, in particular with respect to science and mathematics education. Using examples from the educational literature, a case is made for a notion of “truth”, a pragmatist scientific method, Peirce’s doubt-belief cycle and his semiotics and logic in ...

Pragmatist and Non-pragmatist Knowledge Practices in American Law

Re-solving the Learning Paradox: Epistemological and Ontological Questions for Radical Constructivists

Over 30 years ago, a debate between Jean Piaget and Noam Chomsky revived an ancient learning paradox filst intioduced by Plato (Piattelli-Palmarini, 1980) Chomsky challenged Piaget to explain how one could constrnct more advanced knowledge horn one's existing (less advanced) knowledge Chomsky argued that, without such an explanation fo1 learning, we must assume the innativist position that all ...

The Pragmatist Aesthetics of

Although William James wrote no philosophical treatise on aesthetics, he can be seen as an important source for pragmatist aesthetics. This paper reconstructs James’s aesthetic views from his diverse writings that demonstrate a keen regard for the arts and for the central, pervasive importance of the aesthetic dimension of experience, a dimension he saw as closely linked to the rational and pra...

Peripheral neuropathy: pattern recognition for the pragmatist.

Long lists of causes of peripheral neuropathy make peripheral nerve disease a dry and uninspiring subject. A simple scheme based on the answers to just six questions should enable the clinician to recognise characteristic patterns, investigate relevant subgroups appropriately, and identify treatable disorders quickly: which systems are involved? What is the distribution of weakness? What is the...