Mind, Brain and Memory: On the interaction of ‘folk psychology’ and educational science (Inaugural Professorial Lecture)

Mind, Brain and Memory: On the interaction of ‘folk psychology’ and educational science    The term ‘folk psychology’ is normally used pejoratively by advocates of the claim that our everyday or ‘common sense’ beliefs about the mind in education and other domains should and will be superseded by the findings of neurobiology and psychology (the 'cognitive sciences').  I will argue firstly that certain folk metaphors or assumptions persist in the educational sciences and are particularly influential in determining their objects of study, the interaction between different explanatory layers, and claims made for their application to the classroom.  Secondly, I will suggest that certain common sense beliefs concerning mind, knowledge and bodies can be restored if they are properly construed to be beliefs about education rather than psychology.  This also serves to set some boundaries for the application of ‘educational science’ to educational practice.