A Critique of the Piagetian Presuppositions of the Role of Play in Human Development and a Suggested Alternative: Metaphoric Logic Which Organizes the Play Experience is the Foundation for Rational Creativity

The logic of play is the foundation of intelligent, rational and adaptive experience. This shall be justified by the theory presented in this article, which postulates that the logic of play is metaphoric logic. Metaphoric logic permits recognizing isomorphoric structures between entities which from the "cornmon sense" viewpoint appear to be quite different. Metaphoric logic shall be discussed as that which organizes a child's play behavior and the creative activities of the scientist. Piagetian theory has been a major influence in organizing present educational curriculum. It has also been a fundamental guide used by psychologists in their defining of the nature of the human being and in establishing criteria for evaluating the human's optimal method of development. This article reviews the presuppositions of the Piagetian theory to clarify the fact that it does not account for metaphoric logic and thus inadequately explains the role of creativity in the experience of being human. A reappraisal of traditional presuppositions of education and psychology is in order. A re-evaluation will permit formulation of a theory redefining both the possibilities inherent in human cognition and criteria for the human's optimal development. To comprehend Piaget's description of play behavior, a knowledge of several Piagetian theoretical constructs is needed. They are easily explained if one understands the process of eating. When food is eaten the digestive system responds by contracting and expanding organs and byproducing enzymes, This is analogous to the intellectual process Piaget designates Volume 18 Number