Epistemological Anarchy and the Many Forms of Constructivism

Abstract

Constructivism has become an important referent for research and practice in science education. A variety of more or less divergent forms of constructivism have developed : discussion between these is occasionally heated Six such forms are briefly described in order to provins an overview of the field or consti activist theory A scheme for criai acre rising constructivist writing on the basis of its relative emphasis on (a) personal versus social construction of knowledge and (h) objectivist versus relativist views of the nature of science is suggested. Issues of theory creation and reflexivity, central to constructivist practice, are discussed. It is suggested that debate about the 'best' fotrn of constructivism is counterproductive-. A more powerful approach to epistemology is that described by Fcverabcnd, the holding in dialectical tension ot a variety of incompatible perspectives The following essay is written in rhe conviction thai anarchism, while perhaps not the most attractive pitliiical philosophy, is certainly excellent medicine for cpistcrMilagy - and tor the phiilosfiphy of science (Feycrabcnd, 1975, 17. italics in original). © 1997 Kluner Academic Publishers.