Constructivism
From Freepedia
- In education, constructivism is a learning theory which holds that knowledge is not transmitted unchanged from teacher to student, but instead that learning is an active process of recreating knowledge. Constructivists teach techniques that place emphasis on the role of learning activities in a good curriculum. See constructivism (learning theory).
- In philosophy, constructivism is a view that reality, or at least our knowledge of it, is a value-laden subjective construction rather than a passive acquisition of objective features. See constructivist epistemology.
- In mathematics, constructivism rejects any mathematical existence proof that fails to "construct" the object whose existence is asserted. See constructivism (mathematics).
- In art and architecture, constructivism was an artistic movement in Russia from 1914 onward, see constructivism
- In political seience and international relations theory, constructivism rejects standard realist and liberal views on international relations and argues that state interests stem from identities and international norms, rather than from the effects of international anarchy. Constructivist theory also focuses on how language and rhetoric are used to construct reality. Alexander Wendt has written multiple articles on constructivism.
The basic assumptions of constructivism are as follows:
- Ideas, beliefs, identities of individuals and groups are key to understanding the nature and course of international relations.
- People's identities, ideas, values are constructed by their groups affiliations.
- Social factors such as ideas, values, identities are emphasized more than material factors like military and/or economic power.
- Conflict or cooperation between states is largely the result of their values, views, ideas about each other and their place in the international system.
- Great emphasis is placed on explaining change in international relations.
