Changing Conceptual Change

Abstract

This article reviews Giyoo Hatano’s ground-breaking theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions to conceptual change research. In particular, his discovery of ‘vitalism’ as part of children’s legitimate and distinctive biology at early ages stands as a landmark. In addition, his work reinterpreted childhood ‘personification,’ changing it from an indicator of deficient intellect, to a creative and often insightful strategy for coming to understand biology.