Constructivism

Annotated Bibliography on Constructivism

This page provides some useful references on constructivism. Whenever possible, French and English references are given. 

Definition: “constructivism is a view that reality, or at least our knowledge of it, is a value-laden subjective construction rather than a passive acquisition of objective features.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism  or http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivisme)

Why, as engineers, should we care about constructivism?

As engineers, we work with models. Models reprensent the reality. Experience shows that agreeing on what is the right model is difficult. The notion of constructivism gives a good explanation on why these problems appear. Our research is in business modeling and information system modeling. Our modeling techniques are based on a constructivist approach of modeling. For this reason, we provide a bibliography on this topic.

Bibliography :

Overview:

  • Jean-Louis Le Moigne
    Les épistémologies constructives
    PUF, Que Sais-Je, numéro 2969, isbn 2130469434, 1995
    Excellent résumé du constructivisme pour les ingénieurs. Vivement recommandé et pas cher.
    No english equivalent to my knowledge…
  • Robert Audi
    Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy
    Cambridge University Press; 1999, isbn 0521637228
    Excellent dictionary, enjoyable even to engineers. Give definitions of “social constructivism”, “mathematical constructivism”, “ethical constructivism”. A “must buy”.

Detailed discussion:

  • Paul Watzlawick (éditeur)
    L’invention de la réalité
    Comment savons-nous ce que nous croyons savoir ? Contributions au constructivisme
    Points Essais, numéro 325, isbn 2020294524, 1996
    Ensemble d’articles sur le constructivisme par les pères de celui-ci. A relever l’article “Introduction à un constructisme radical” de Ernst von Glasersfeld, une vision extrême du constructivisme.
  • Paul Watzlawick (editor)
    Invented Reality: How Do We Know What We Believe We Know?
    W. W. Norton and Co, New-York, 1984, ISBN: 0393017311
    Articles on the constructivism by the references in the field. To be highlighted, the article “An introduction to radical constructivism” von Ernst von Glasersfeld, constructivism pushed to the extreme A

“Fun”:

  • Carlos Castaneda 
    L’Herbe du diable et la petite fumée (The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge)
    Une voie yaqui de la connaissance
    10/18, numéro 1113, isbn 2264007257, 1968
    Récit en principe autobiographique de Castaneda lors de son travail d’antropologue chez les sorciers mexicains. Voir http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda pour plus d’info sur Castaneda. Ce roman est sur la connaissance, il donne une bonne idée du constructivisme (sans jamais le nommer). Bon roman en plus… Pas recommandé dans les milieux scientifiques.
  • Carlos Castaneda
    The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
    Washington Square Press, 1985, 0671600419
    Autobiographic (?) story of Castaneda as an antropologist in Mexico. Seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaneda for more info. This books is about “knowledge”, it gives a good idea of constructivism (although it is never named). Good book. Not really recommended for scientific readers…

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