Evolutionary psychology Quote by Robert Kegan
““Piaget may 'be about' stages or cognitive development only in the way that Newton 'is about' gravity, or Columbus the West Indies, or Jefferson reconciling the claims of the individual with claims of the state, or Joyce a literary approach to consciousness. These were the 'problems' that consumed these men and they resolved them brilliantly - but so brilliantly that the resolutions become Trojan horses lying in wait to reveal what they were really about.””
About This Quote
Source Book: In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life, Robert Kegan, 1994
The quote argues that theories like Piaget’s stages become entrenched as tools, masking deeper questions they were meant to address.
In simple terms: Theories can hide their true purpose behind accepted ideas.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions behind accepted frameworks.
Themes
psychology
theory
critical thinking
education
philosophy
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- teaching
- research design
- policy making
- personal growth
Key Concepts
cognitive development
paradigm shift
meta-analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden assumptions underlie your current models?
- How can you uncover the deeper problems they address?
A Different Perspective
Frameworks may limit new perspectives if taken as final truth.
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