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These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes,
and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site,
please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.

regarding syllogism and culture

From: Mike Cole (mcole@weber.ucsd.edu)
Date: Sun May 06 2001 - 08:55:50 PDT


Eric wrote (in part):
 But from reading the Kpelle study, the Vai study and Scribner
article "Modes of thinking and ways of speaking culture and logic
reconsidered" it appears that many people solve logical questions based on
their everyday experiences (Vygotsky's spontaneous thought processes) and not
based on what they learned in a formal school setting (Vygotsky's scientific
thought processes).

        Eric-- There is a massive literature showing that people reason on the
basis of their everyday experiences and that syllogistc reasoning in an
Aristotelian sense is a very specific phenomenon used in specific circumstances.
American college students often reason incorrectly about absractly presented
syllogisms while immediately solving versions to which they can ascribe human.
personal/sense.

       There are various interpretations of these phenomena. You might find
interesting Peter Tulviste's work on the cultural-historical development of
verbal thinking.
mikec



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