Mindscapes and Science Theories [and Comments and Reply]

Problematización de la complejidad de los sistemas de pensamiento: un modelo epistemológico para la investigación empí­rica de los paradigmas

“…El problema relativo a la organización y cambio de los sistemas de pensamiento ha sido abordado desde distintas perspectivas y con distintos conceptos: psicogénesis y sociogénesis (Piaget y García, 2008) , paradigma (Morin, 1998) , arqueología y genealogía (Foucault, 1998) , estructura o marco de pensamiento (Koyré, 1999) , representaciones sociales (Moscovici, 1979) , mindscape (Maruyama, 1980) , modo de pensamiento (Whitehead, 1944) , entre otros.…”

Is Ethnobotany an Ecological Science? Steps towards a complex Ethnobotany

“…Such models may vary among individuals, societies or cultures but, as argued by Maruyama (1980), can be considered as general explanatory models, which he calls "epistemological types" or "mindscapes". The most classical model corresponds to a pattern of linear or deterministic explanation (the cause/effect model), which fits well with the subjects of study that are considered simple (not the systems), in which random has no place.…”

“…As Maruyama (1980) say: "The choice of causal model in an investigation depends on the epistemological type of the researcher, which relates to their personal characteristics and cultural background". This finding means that we can have more than one explanation for the same phenomenon based on the theoretical premises of the researcher or the traditions of the research lines (as mentioned earlier, for ecology, the concept of an ecosystem as a sum of isolated elements or as a system based on the complexity of organism/surroundings relation).…”

Comparison of Mental Structures of Eighth-graders in Different Countries on the Basis of Fennema-Sherman Test

“…Several countries in East Asia seem to share the "Moderately unstructured" factor structure. In what follows, this common structure of thinking is called "mental structure" -Magoroh Maruyama's (1980) concept "mindscape" could have been used (see also Caley & Sawada, 1994 Heuristically, the concept of "mindscape" seems to explain the differences between the different cultures and similarities of certain areas -the "East Asian structure" seems to differ from the "European structure".…”

“…Especially in Indonesia and Thailand, there is no such achievement level percentile group where the fully expected factor structure would be present. The fact raises several questions of real cultural differences-maybe even "cultural mindscapes" (see Maruyama 1980)-behind the phenomenon or at least exacerbated-or inseparable linkage of achievement level and cultural effects in explaining the phenomenon. These are discussed in the final section.…”