THE LIFE SPACE OF A SCIENTIST - THE VISIONARY FUNCTION AND OTHER ASPECTS OF PIAGET,JEAN THINKING

This article (a) sketches briefly some systemic aspects of creative wo rk as part of the rationale for the use of the case study method, (b) outlines a spectrum of processes that can be grouped as the ''visionar y function,'' which includes metaphor and other figures of thought, an d (c) illustrates the previous points by examining both Jean Piaget's creative work and his ideas about creative work, drawing on unpublishe d interviews and other sources. Special attention is given to an ensem ble of metaphors and other figures of thought that play important role s in Piaget's thinking. These include the circle of the sciences, nour ishment and growth, biology and knowledge, toys, projection, possibili ties, incubation, writing as thinking, internal logic, music, morality and structure, adolescent dreamer, ascent, and ascending equilbration .