The epistemological grounds of the conceptual profile theory

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss the charge that the conceptual profile theory would be relativist. After contrasting rationalism and relativism, we elaborate the epistemological grounds of the theory in terms of an objective pragmatism, drawing on Peirce’s and Dewey’s philosophies, and discuss the differences between this philosophical position and relativist views. For a pragmatist, there is no problem in comparing different ways of thinking, provided that this comparison is not made in abstract, but always with a clear connection to concrete situations in which we should make decisions and act. From this we derive one of the learning goals in the profile theory: to become aware of the several modes of thinking available in a sociocultural circumstance and of the domains in which their application shows pragmatic value.