Piaget’s Genetic Epistemology

Abstract

Jean piaget claims to be a genetic epistemologist (instead of merely a child psychologist) and to have made epistemology scientific instead of philosophical. But since there are few adequate discussions of what this genetic epistemology is, I outline the major features of piaget's genetic epistemology and illustrate piaget's thesis that philosophical epistemology makes empirical claims that are verifiable scientifically and in fact false. After discussing piaget's conception of epistemology in general (which has affinities with popper's critical rationalism), I discuss his views of traditional epistemology (rationalism, Empiricism, Kantianism, Hegelianism) and indicate how piaget's views of epistemology are different from these. I then discuss his particular views concerning genetic epistemology, Characterize its general aim and program, And show it is both similar to and different from the history of science and genetic psychology.