Is There a Social Constructionist In the House?

[ed_rex]

I'm re-reading Steven Pinker's book, The Blank Slate and would like to hear from the other side.

Can any of you suggest a good over-view of social constructionist theory?

Comments

Oh Yes!

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I've actually read it before and it mostly stroked my own preconceived notions. I want to lend it to someone, but decided to re-read it first, so it would be fresh in my mind when (as I half expect) she attacks it.

I suppose I could just take the most likely looking items from his bibliography or footnotes, but there's no guarantee that he's cited the strongest examples of the theory he disdains (though I believe that he has!).

Re: Oh Yes!

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

I think actually Pinker's bibliography is pretty safe to judge. He's well respected as a scholar and he wouldn't be if he didn't use seminal works. I just don't remember who the biggest proponents of the theory are.

The short version, if I remember right, is the nature vs. nurture thing, as I'm sure you've gleaned from the book already.

Re: Oh Yes!

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

It probably is safe to use it, I agree. I just want to be as fair as possible, on the (unlikely) chance Pinker's left out some powerful thinker and is, in effect, attacking straw men.

Basically, I have always "known" that people nature makes a difference - or at least since I watched my younger brother see a piano at the age of 6 or 7 and start picking out music by ear. (Funnily enough, when he picked up music as a teenager, he quickly became a very good musician.)