Working notes

W. Perry in his book “Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years” (1970) describes students’ development as a sequence of epistemological “positions”:

1. Basic dualism - seeing the world in polarities of right/wrong, good/bad, etc.
2. Multiplicity - being aware of diversity of opinions.
3. Relativism subordinate - analytical, evaluative approach in academics.
4. Relativism - understanding that truth is relative and that its relativity goes beyond academia.

When people have no opportunity to be exposed to multiple points of view and engage in dialog, they usually remain on the position of basic dualism.