1934 The Problem of Consciousness
Vygotsky 1934
http://www.marxists.org/archive/vygotsky/works/1934/problem-consciousness.htm
Source: Collected Works of L. S. Vygotsky, Volume III, Part 1: Problems of the Theory and Methods of Psychology, Chapter 9: The Problem of Consciousness, pp 129-138;
First Published: in The Psychology of Grammar,
Not published during Vygotsky’s life. Based on material found in A. N. Leont'ev’s private archives.
Foreword by A A Leont'ev from “The Psychology of Grammar,”
The notes of Vygotsky’s talks are published on the basis of the manuscript copybooks preserved in the archives of A. N. Leont'ev. In these notebooks the main text is written on the right (odd) pages, while the insertions and additions which were particularly made by Zaporozhec are on the opposite left (even) pages. All notes (except for some that we ignored as they were obviously added later and only summarized what Vygotsky said in more modern wordings) were written with a pen.
Naturally, in our publication we first of all made use of the basic text. It is supplemented with the corresponding insertions from the even pages of the notebooks, which are given in angle brackets < > . We did not cut the material. Following the original, halfway through the notes we added the notes of Vygotsky’s speech on the occasion of Luria’s talk, which according to its theme corresponds to the specific part of the talk “The problem of consciousness.”
All highlightings in the manuscript made by A. N. Leont'ev have been preserved.
All parentheses and square brackets belong to the original. The passages in quotation marks are direct quotes from Vygotsky’s oral speech. In the published excerpt from the record of Vygotsky’s speech about the theses for the debates in 1933-1934, we have followed the same principles with the only difference being that between the angle brackets are given the insertions made with the same ink by A. N. Leont'ev himself.
Introduction
Toward the end of the twenties, a small group of young psychologists had gathered around Vygotsky and began to work under his guidance. Apart from the discussions of scientific problems that were systematically conducted at the meetings of the department and the laboratory where we carried out our investigations at the time and during private talks, Vygotsky now and then gathered his closest collaborators and students in meetings which we called internal conferences. Their purpose was to theoretically think through what had been accomplished, to discuss problems that had arisen in the discussions, to plan future work. Usually such internal conferences proceeded in the form of a free exchange of opinions about the issues that had been raised; in other cases we listened to and discussed full-blown talks especially prepared for the occasion. No minutes were taken in either the first or the second case. For that reason only some of Vygotsky’s presentations have been preserved in the personal notes of the participants in these conferences.
The notes of Vygotsky’s talk relate to the moment when the inner necessity arose to sum up the results of the investigations of the higher mental processes thus far carried out from the perspective of the theory of human consciousness, to present an analysis of its inner structure. This talk, which was written down by me in a very condensed thesis-like form, rested on an overview of many investigations carried out under the supervision of Vygotsky and with his participation. Therefore, its exposition by the author took tremendous time – with a pause of approximately two hours it lasted more than seven hours, and another day was devoted to its discussion.
As far as I remember, apart from Leont'ev and Luria in this internal conference Bozhovic, Zaporozhec, Levina, Morozova and Slavina also participated.
Some clarification is required about the notes of Vygotsky’s talk at the internal conference where the problem of the theses was discussed which had been prepared for a public debate about the works of Vygotsky and his school. Such a debate was expected in 1933 or 1934, but before Vygotsky’s death it did not take place. What was left was the unfinished and provisional work prepared for this debate. The published fragments of the notes concern only those questions which coincide with those raised in his talk about the problem of consciousness.
Volume 3 Problems of the Theory and History of Psychology
Some Major Themes in Vygotsky’s Theoretical Work. An Introduction, René van der Veer
On Vygotsky’s Creative Development, A. N. Leont'ev
Part 1: Problems of the Theory and Methods of Psychology
Chapter 1: The Methods of Reflexological and Psychological Investigation
Chapter 2: Preface to Lazursky
Chapter 3: Consciousness as a Problem for the Psychology of Behavior
Chapter 4: Apropos Koffka’s Article on Self-Observation (Instead of a Preface)
Chapter 5: The Instrumental Method in Psychology
Chapter 6: On Psychological Systems
Chapter 7: Mind, Consciousness, the Unconscious
Chapter 8: Preface to Leont'ev
Chapter 9: The Problem of Consciousness
1. Introduction
2. Our Main Hypothesis Presented from Outside
3. The Hypothesis “From Within” (From the Viewpoint of our Works)
4. The Hypothesis “From Below’
Conclusions
5. “Inside”
6. In Breadth and Afar
Conclusion
Appendix
Footnotes
