Difference between revisions of "Mental toolkit"
From Danton's Real Life Userguide
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| − | The project of the "mental toolkit" was originally inspired by Ralph Ellis' Rational-Emotive Therapy. Ellis identified learned ideas as a source of personal effectiveness. He asserted that certain learned ideas are "correct" in that they guide us towards effective actions, while others are "false" in that they guide us towards misplaced actions. This pro-active approach contrasts with the more passive traditional "psychotherapy," wherein the therapist only helps the patient to find their own solution, by the mere act of listening while the other talks. | + | The project of the "mental toolkit" was originally inspired by [[Ralph Ellis]]' [[Rational-Emotive Therapy]]. Ellis identified learned ideas as a source of personal effectiveness. He asserted that certain learned ideas are "correct" in that they guide us towards effective actions, while others are "false" in that they guide us towards misplaced actions. This pro-active approach contrasts with the more passive traditional "psychotherapy," wherein the therapist only helps the patient to find their own solution, by the mere act of listening while the other talks. |
We could generalize this principle of "correct ideas" to create a new type of self-help book. But as soon as we start investigating any particular [[conceptual scheme]], we come across a vast sea of existing specialized knowledge. A rational approach would therefore be to assemble inter-disciplinary teams of accredited specialists, who would work together to identify sets of "correct ideas" that could help set us all on the right track towards individual success, as well as collective change. | We could generalize this principle of "correct ideas" to create a new type of self-help book. But as soon as we start investigating any particular [[conceptual scheme]], we come across a vast sea of existing specialized knowledge. A rational approach would therefore be to assemble inter-disciplinary teams of accredited specialists, who would work together to identify sets of "correct ideas" that could help set us all on the right track towards individual success, as well as collective change. | ||
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==Constructivist epistemology== | ==Constructivist epistemology== | ||
The theme of the "mental toolkit" is close to ideas developed by various thinkers that are often grouped into a current called "constructivist epistemology." Those frequently cited include: | The theme of the "mental toolkit" is close to ideas developed by various thinkers that are often grouped into a current called "constructivist epistemology." Those frequently cited include: | ||
| − | *Lev Vygotsky | + | *[[Lev Vygotsky]] |
| − | *Jean Piaget | + | *[[Jean Piaget]] |
| − | *Alfred Korzybski | + | *[[Alfred Korzybski]] |
| − | *Gregory Bateson | + | *[[Gregory Bateson]] |
| − | *Ralph Ellis | + | *[[Ralph Ellis]] |
One well-known off-shoot of constructivist epistemology is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). However, this latter school of thought is generally considered to be pseudo-scientific. (Also, NLP lost considerable credit after one the founders was tried for murder.) | One well-known off-shoot of constructivist epistemology is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). However, this latter school of thought is generally considered to be pseudo-scientific. (Also, NLP lost considerable credit after one the founders was tried for murder.) | ||
