An interdisciplinary theory of activity / / by Andy Blunden.

• Superior document: Studies in critical social sciences ; v. 22
• Author: Blunden, Andy.
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in critical social sciences ; v. 22.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (352 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Andy Blunden presents an immanent critique of Cultural-Historical Activity Theory, the current of psychology originating from Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Tracing the roots of this theory from Goethe, Hegel and Marx, the author draws out the principles with which Vygotsky developed a theory of the mind in which the individual and their social situation form a single Gestalt, transcending the problems of mind-body dualism. Blunden follows the efforts of later members of the School to resolve outstanding problems in Vygotsky’s work. This includes a critical appropriation of Leontyev’s Activity Theory and Michael Cole’s cross-cultural research on the role of context in learning. The outcome is a concept of activity which transcends the division between individual and social domains in human sciences.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / A. Blunden -- Chapter One. Introduction / A. Blunden -- Chapter Two. Soviet Cultural Psychology (1924–) / A. Blunden -- Chapter Three. Goethe’s Romantic Science / A. Blunden -- Chapter Four. The Young Hegel And What Drove Him / A. Blunden -- Chapter Five. The Phenomenology And ‘Formations Of Consciousness’ / A. Blunden -- Chapter Six. The Subject Matter Of The Logic / A. Blunden -- Chapter Seven. Being, Essence and The Notion / A. Blunden -- Chapter Eight. Subjectivity And Culture / A. Blunden -- Chapter Nine. Hegel’s Psychology And Spirit / A. Blunden -- Chapter Ten. Marx’s Critique Of Hegel / A. Blunden -- Chapter Eleven. Marx And The Foundations Of Activity Theory / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twelve. Marx’s Critique Of Political Economy / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirteen. Conclusions From This Historical Excursus / A. Blunden -- Chapter Fourteen. Vygotsky’s Critique Of Behaviorism / A. Blunden -- Chapter Fifteen. Vygotsky And Luria On Romantic Science / A. Blunden -- Chapter Sixteen. Vygotsky On Units And Microcosms / A. Blunden -- Chapter Seventeen. Vygotsky On Gestalt And Bildung / A. Blunden -- Chapter Eighteen. The Significance Of Vygotsky’s Legacy / A. Blunden -- Chapter Nineteen. Activity / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty. Activity As The Substance Of A Science / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-One. Criticisms Of Vygotsky’s Concept Of Activity / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Two. Leontyev’s Anatomy Of Activity / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Three. Leontyev’s Activity Theory And Marx’s Political Economy / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Four. Groups As A Model Of Sociality / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Five. Yrjö Engeström’s Model / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Six. Michael Cole And Cross-Cultural Psychology / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Seven. The Results Of This Immanent Critique / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Eight. Collaborative Projects / A. Blunden -- Chapter Twenty-Nine. Ethics And Collaboration / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty. Marx’s Critique Of Political Economy And Activity Theory / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty-One. Towards A Taxonomy Of Activity / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty-Two. Collaborative Projects And Identity / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty-Three. Collaborative Projects And Agency / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty-Four. Emancipatory Science / A. Blunden -- Chapter Thirty-Five. Conclusion / A. Blunden -- Acknowledgements / A. Blunden -- References / A. Blunden -- Index / A. Blunden.