Bridging Concept and Activity: a Dialectical Synthesis Proposal

• Main Authors: Lago L, Mattos C.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education 2021-08-01
• Series: Культурно-историческая психология
• Subjects: concept formation; activity theory; volition
• Online Access: https://psyjournals.ru/en/kip/2021/n2/Lago_Mattos.shtml

This work is a theoretical discussion about concept formation in a cultural-historical perspective that articulates Vygotsky’s system of concepts within Leontiev’s structure of activity. This effort has led to a theoretical proposition that we call concept-activity, a dialectical unity formed by a concept and its genetic activities, i.e., the systematised activities in which concepts emerge directed to a purpose. Taking volition and conscious awareness as analytic categories, we initially relate scientific concepts with actions — concepts-action — and everyday concepts with operations — concepts-operation. The articulation of these elements drives the emergence of conceptual thinking as an activity, framed by the term concept-activity. In other words, while scientific concepts are related to actions because both arise from a conscious and voluntary dimension, everyday concepts are related to operations through a non-conscious and non-voluntary dimension. A discussion on how the concept-activity synthetises the movement between these two forms of conceptualisations and its implication to concept formation is provided.