Reconstruction and explanation of foundational development

Michiel Korthals

pp. 55-73

in: Wouter van Haaften, Michiel Korthals, Thomas Wren (eds), Philosophy of development, Berlin, Springer, 1997

Abstract

Foundational analysis, as described in the previous chapter, can be seen as a form of depth hermeneutics. In this chapter we will survey some of the epistemological and normative problems of foundational development theories. We elaborate and apply our approach of chapter 4 in order to understand and analyze theories concerned with foundational development. Genetic structuralist theories in the tradition of Piaget and Baldwin focus on fundamental structures involved in individual development, but there is no reason to limit the reconstruction of foundational structures to individual development; it is also possible to reconstruct foundational structures in group or societal development, for example, the development of collective moral thought (Habermas, 1983; Schluchter, 1981) or juridical thought (Radding, 1986). However, we must bear in mind that not every developmental theory in psychology or sociology deals with foundational structures. Most of them have other theoretical aims (like explaining phenomena) and the model here proposed is not intended to be of much use for them. The scope of this model is therefore limited in this regard.

Cited authors

Habermas Jürgen