In this podcast, I discuss the draft of the academic paper on Neither/Nor which I wrote about here, with my coauthor, developmental psychologist Dr. Isabela Granic.
This paper was a lot of work, and we discussed the writing right after finishing a major draft. In it, we emphasise the six principles of Neither/Nor. The article currently has an editor at Nature assessing the submission.
The Six Principles of Neither/Nor
* Two Modes of Knowing: The first principle identifies the two distinct ways we approach reality — through concepts and experiences. These modes are complementary, we consider them trainable skills, and neither should be privileged over the other.
* Commitment to Oscillation: Rather than selecting a definitive standpoint, we advocate for a dynamic process of moving back and forth between the conceptual and experiential skills, allowing us to adapt to varying contexts.
* Process Over Static Entities: Our understanding should prioritise processes rather than fixed entities, recognising the ever-changing nature of knowledge as it evolves through interaction.
* Trial and Error Learning: Engage with the world through continuous experimentation, using trial and error to iteratively refine our understanding and approach—this is the heart of adaptive learning.
* Social Construction of Knowledge: A recognition that all knowledge is inherently social and culturally embedded, thus continually accessible and subject to change.
* Historicity: Understanding that knowledge and its acquisition grow from historical context, allowing a holistic grasp of how changes occur in scientific, cultural, and personal realms.
Would you like to read it?
If so, you can request a copy of the pre-print here.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed the conversation, please share it with someone! Please also consider supporting me on Patreon or Ko-Fi.
Best,
Bryan
