The Ontological Reversal: A Figure of Thought of Importance for Science Education: Abstract: >The Ontological Reversal: A Figure of Thought of
Importance for Science Education The German philosopher Edmund Husserl criticised natural science for contributing to an "ontological reversal", meaning that abstract mathematical models of phenomena are taken as more real than phenomena themselves, as they appear in our everyday experience. Nowadays many scientists have abandoned the correspondence theory of truth concerning their theoretical models, but the effects of the "ontological reversal" may still linger among lay people. The primary purpose of this paper is to investigate whether this "reversal" is present in the thinking and reasoning of pre-service science teachers. In the project upon which
the paper is based, twenty-three student teachers were introduced to Goethe's theory of colour. They were then placed in small groups and given the task to discuss whether Goethe's theory is scientific or not. The group discussions were recorded and analysed in terms of thematic contents. The ontological reversal seemed to be present as an implicit "figure of thought" in some of the statements made in the discussions. The educational consequences of this kind of thinking for science teaching are discussed.< Link
monochrom is an art-technology-philosophy group having its seat in Vienna and Zeta Draconis. monochrom is an unpeculiar mixture of proto-aesthetic fringe work, pop attitude, subcultural science, context hacking and political activism. Our mission is conducted everywhere, but first and foremost in culture-archeological digs into the seats (and pockets) of ideology and entertainment. monochrom has existed in this (and almost every other) form since 1993. [more]
