The Rise of Abstract Thinking in History. The Developmental Approach Illuminates the Foundations of the Russian Socio-Historical Psychology

Luria's empirical study in Uzbekistan and Kirgistan belongs to the core of Russian School Socio-Historical Psychology. The goal this article is examine that research again disclose their true fundamentals. All tests Luria had used Central Asia come from developmental psychology. However, neither nor his followers fully understood foundations consequences research, something makes very clear. exposes results really show illiterate people have same negative test as preschool or primary school children, while literate solved items successfully older children do. present paper shows firstly does not always make it clear procedures originate secondly works out won by child psychology compare them with obtained adults. It demonstrated thirdly positions Luria, Cole Scribner, according which are useful for demonstrating similarities between adults pre-modern cultures, wrong. fourthly evidences parallels ontogenetic cognitive structures those adult actually proven without realizing it. fifthly every single task originates This first time himself subsequent interpreters scientific significance results.