Pragmatism and activity theory: Is Dewey's philosophy a philosophy of cultural retooling?

A philosopher of education, Jim Garrison, has suggested that John Dewey's philosophy is a philosophy of cultural retooling and that Dewey adopted both his conception of work and the idea of tool as "a middle term between subject and object” from Hegel. This interpretation raises the question of what the relationship of the idea of cultural retooling in Dewey’s work is to his naturalism and to his allegiance to Darwinian biological functionalism. To deal with this problem, this paper analyzes how the idea of cultural retooling is elaborated in Dewey’s logic and in his theory of reflective thinking and compares it to the concept of retooling in Vygotsky and activity theory. Dewey does recognize the significance of tools in human practice and the role of language in the formation of meaning. However, in his theory of thinking and problem solving, he primarily resorts to the biological or ecological language of the organism–environment, in which the concepts of habit and situation play a central role. It is argued that this language does not deal with the functions and relationships of different kinds of tools and artifacts in changes of activity nor supply satisfactory means of analyzing the historical, institutionalized and cultural dimensions of human activity

Hegel's political and social theory : ethical life (Sittlichkeit) as a historical-institutional context of human development

This paper suggests that Hegel’s concept of Sittlichkeit (ethical life) provides an elementary way of understanding the relationship between individual development and the cultural and political environment. In contrast to many other concepts of context, it is able to integrate the moral, social, political, economic, and legal conditions of human development within one framework. Individual development is analyzed in terms of how freedom, Bildung (self-development), and recognition are realized in the institutions of ethical life. As a theory of the historical development of the institutional conditions of human freedom, Hegel’s political philosophy provides a normative foundation for emancipatory activities. Hegel’s political theory challenges sociocultural and cultural-historical psychologies to expand developmental interventions into communities and social movements for the reconstruction of institutions.Peer reviewe

21st-century competencies: : The OECD as a reformer of the language of education

Peer reviewe

Reconceptualizing object construction : The dynamics of building information modelling in construction design

The article discusses the concepts of object and object construction through studying the collaborative use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in construction design. It suggests that a combined BIM model in design can be regarded as an ideal or special object, as suggested by Ilyenkov in his theory of the ideal. The concepts of intermediary object and artefact help in analysing the cycles of construction of such an object in design. BIM models as modifiable digital artefacts contribute to their capability of functioning as tools of individual design work and collaboration as well as means of objectifying the outcomes of design cycles into intermediary objects. We argue that the uses of combined BIM models give birth to a new modality of spatial thought, perception and collaborative problem solving in construction design.Peer reviewe

Dynamics of design collaboration. BIM models as intermediary digital objects

Engineering and architectural design research has studied the uses of various kinds of artefacts and visual representations like sketches, drawings and design plans. The implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) creates a new constellation of instruments and calls for further reconceptualising of the collaborative design process. The paper presents analysis of BIM models as co-developed intermediary objects in the design. They function both as objects of joint problem solving and as a concrete but dynamic means for collaboration both virtually and in face-to-face meetings. We suggest that BIM models provide novel forms of 'virtual materiality': in design meetings BIM models provide a tangible means for designers' collaboration. Versatile indexical use of 3D BIM models dominates discussion and problem solving in design meetings.Peer reviewe

Beyond the distinction between tool and sign : Objects and artifacts in human activity

Peer reviewe

Humboldt vai Snellman? Minkälainen sivistysyliopisto?

Yliopistosta käydyssä keskustelussa perinteistä yliopiston mallia on kutsuttu sivistysyliopistoksi tai usein humboldtilaisen sivistysyliopiston malliksi. Sen haastajaksi kehittyi 1980-luvulta politiikan kielenkäytössä mm. termit innovaatioyliopisto ja huippuylipisto. Ne ilmaisivat tarvetta korostaa yliopistojen merkitystä yhteiskunnan taloudelliselle kehitykselle ja kansalliselle kilpailukyvylle. Sivistys- ja innovaatioyliopiston vastakkainasettelu on leimannut keskustelua yliopiston kehittämisestä ja sen hallinnon järjestämisestä

Pragmatism and activity theory: Is Dewey's philosophy a philosophy of cultural retooling?

A philosopher of education, Jim Garrison, has suggested that John Dewey's philosophy is a philosophy of cultural retooling and that Dewey adopted both his conception of work and the idea of tool as "a middle term between subject and object” from Hegel. This interpretation raises the question of what the relationship of the idea of cultural retooling in Dewey’s work is to his naturalism and to his allegiance to Darwinian biological functionalism. To deal with this problem, this paper analyzes how the idea of cultural retooling is elaborated in Dewey’s logic and in his theory of reflective thinking and compares it to the concept of retooling in Vygotsky and activity theory. Dewey does recognize the significance of tools in human practice and the role of language in the formation of meaning. However, in his theory of thinking and problem solving, he primarily resorts to the biological or ecological language of the organism–environment, in which the concepts of habit and situation play a central role. It is argued that this language does not deal with the functions and relationships of different kinds of tools and artifacts in changes of activity nor supply satisfactory means of analyzing the historical, institutionalized and cultural dimensions of human activity