Jean Piaget and Neuchâtel
The Learner and the Scholar

Jean Piaget is widely acknowledged as one of the most important scholars of the twentieth century. His passionate philosophical search for an understanding of the nature of knowledge led him to make major contributions to the study of child development and epistemology. But how did his early life in Neuchâtel inspire him to embark on this search?

Taking a socio-historical and cultural perspective, this book outlines the development of Piaget's understanding of major issues regarding mind, faith, science, logic, peace, and social rights in a time of anxiety. and world wars The international and multidisciplinary contributors investigate Piaget the adolescent as he begins his quest for autonomy of reason and sets out to create his own explanatory system for cognitive growth. The latter part of the book goes on to consider the early reception of Piaget's work in different cultural contexts and his impact on issues of psychology and educational reform.

Piaget's theoretical system can be seen as an expression of the values he developed during his childhood and adolescence as he searched for the conditions of reciprocal relationships and rational dialogues. Jean Piaget and Neuchâtel demonstrates that in today's climate, the questions Piaget addressed remain very relevant and invite new enquiries from different standpoints. This book will therefore be of interest to psychologists, educators, and philosophers.

This book is published with the support of Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council.

A.-N. Perret-Clermont, J.-M. Barrelet, Foreword. Part 1: Growing Up in Neuchâtel. J.-M. Barrelet, Neuchâtel. J.-P. Jermini, Neuchâtel, Jean Piaget's Hometown. M. de Tribolet, Arthur Piaget (1865-1952): Background of Jean Piaget's Father. A.-F. Schaller-Jeanneret, Early Schooling. J.-P. Schaer, Studies at the University of Neuchâtel. M.-J. Liengme Bessire, S. Béguelin, Did Jean Piaget’s 'Conversion' From Malacology to Psychology Happen in the Faculty of Arts? F. Vidal, Jean Piaget, 'Friend of Nature'. C. Thomann, Christian and Social Commitment. C. Robert-Grandpierre, Grandchamp and Pierre Bovet. Part 2: A Savant of his Age. T. Zittoun, A.-N. Perret-Clermont, J.-M. Barrelet,The Socio-intellectual Genealogy of Jean Piaget. J. Rijsman, An Intellectual and Technological Panorama of Piaget's World. J. Oelkers, The New Education. J.-J. Ducret, The Intellectual Journey after the Neuchâtel Period. R. van der Veer, The Reception of Piaget’s Early Ideas in the Soviet Union. D. Hameline, The Great Images of Jean Piaget. A.-N. Perret-Clermont, Epilogue: Piaget, His Elders and His Peers.

Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont is Professor at the University of Neuchâtel. Her main areas of interest are the social psychology of cognitive development, the transmission of knowledge, and the transition from youth to adulthood. She has also been awarded the National Latsis Prize by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Jean-Marc Barrelet is a specialist in history of economy and social history of the nineteenth century. He was Archivist at the Record Office of Neuchâtel between 1988 and 2003. He has also edited many publications of the Canton of Neuchâtel.