Heterogeneity and pluralism in science education from the perspective of conceptual profiles

Abstract

In this chapter we explore the relationship between the conceptual profile theory and representational pluralism. We begin by presenting the view of concepts as social constructs. From thinking about concepts as mental entities, we shift to thinking about mental processes or activities of conceptualization as grounded on but not reducible to brain processes, since to conceptualize means to engage with concepts as social constructs. We then present the basic features of the conceptual profile theory. Conceptual profiles are models built to deal with the heterogeneity of ways of thinking and speaking about the world, used by the individuals to signify their experience in different contexts or spheres of their lives. Assuming the existence of conceptual profiles as a manifestation of pluralism implies recognizing the coexistence of two or more meanings for the same word or concept, which are accessed and used by the individual in the appropriate contexts. We also present conceptual profile as a research program and exemplify it with one of the models proposed for the chemical concept of substance. We finish by discussing how the conceptual profile theory can be related to different views of representational pluralism.