Lev Vygotsky

The contemporary debate in psychology and politics over the possibilities for human development has fuelled a renewed interest in the early Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky. In “Lev Vygotsky: Revolutionary Scientist” , Fred Newman and Lois Holzman argue that Vygotsky was a revolutionary who used – and advanced – Marx’s method to make extrordinary discoveries about the nature of learning, development, thinking, speaking and playing. In this introduction to Vygoysky and Vygotskyian research, the authors draw upon their own fifteen years’ work in creating Vygotsky-inspired therapeutic, educational and cultural environments. That work has produced the discovery that revolutionary activity, typical of early childhood, is the fundamental human characteristic. When revolutionary activity is arrested, not only do development and progress stop, eventually even adaptation to society becomes impossible. “Lev Vygotsky: Revolutionary Scientist” is intended for undergraduate as well as advanced students in psychology, linguistics, education and philosophy.