Cognitive and didactic intellectualism in the genetic epistemology of Jean Piaget

ABSTRACT:Jean Piaget’s work is based on genetic psychology. The Genevian psychologist considers intelligence as an adaptation, by assimilating patterns and accommodations, to new situations. It is a process of balancing and self-regulation at every stage of development. This process defines the principle of learning, since for him “to learn is to adapt”. Thus, the level of cognitive development of the child must be taken into account in the exercise of didactic and educational procedures. However, although the thought of Piaget had a considerable impact on the practice of pedagogy, one can see in his cognitive intellectualism that he proposes, a marginalization of the conative requirement. This cognitive intellectualism constitutes, in our opinion, a relay of moral intellectualism.