ABSTRACT
A preliminary sketch of such a common-sense theory of motion had already been developed (Ogborn 1985) and is summarized below. These ideas derive from Hayes’ (1979) ‘naive physics manifesto’ which attempts a formalization of ordinary everyday knowledge of the physical world. It is proposed that conceptions of motion derive from schemes which are systematic and can be described as formal structures. The proposed theory makes testable predictions about normal expectations of possible and impossible motions, and about common-sense descriptions of motion and explanations of its causes. Our view would be that these schemes develop early in life, essentially through the internalization of actions, and persist into adulthood.
