ABSTRACT

Structural models provide well defined criteria which can be used in the identification of necessary knowledge across an indefinite range of epistemic domains. Piaget has proposed an explanation through equilibration, which is the construction of better structures from existing structures. The first difficulty is: how can structural change occur at all as a process of internal change? Of course, there is no problem in making a structural change, for example in changing syllogistic for predicate logic. The second difficulty is: why is structural change the construction of a better structure? In some cases, structural change can result in a weaker structure. The twin difficulties are general difficulties and so apply to any developmental account based on the construction of new structures. So the difficulties are not peculiar to Piaget's account. Further, there is no acceptable way to resolve the twin difficulties and, a fortiori, Piaget's constructivism provides no adequate resolution.