Sobre o Nome da Revista

The French term "schème", which entitles our Journal, was chosen because it expresses a central notion of Epistemology and Genetic Psychology, especially with regard to schèmes d'action. The term permeates the entire work of Jean Piaget (the genesis of the schèmes d'action is studied in detail by Piaget in La naissance de l'intelligence chez l'enfant) and, in particular, the passage from the book Biologie et connaissance (Paris: Gallimard, 1967, p.14-15) is famous that: “[…] all knowledge is linked to an action and that to know an object or event is to use them, assimilating them to action schemes (schèmes d'action)”.

The term “Schème” is generally translated by the Portuguese term “schema”. However, the latter does not translate all the richness of meaning that the former has. In particular, it does not reflect the distinction between schème and schéma, so dear to the rigorous expression of Piaget's thought. For example, Piaget, in L'image mentale chez l'enfant (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1966, p. 431) writes: “If we call 'schème' an instrument of generalization that allows us to highlight the elements common to similar behaviors successive, then there are perceptual schèmes such as sensorimotor schèmes, operative schèmes, etc.; and there are also, in this sense, the imagetic schèmes that allow the subject to construct analogous images in comparable situations.

But if we call a simplified model 'schéma' intended to facilitate presentation (such as a topographical scheme, etc.), then there are no perceptual schémas, since the schéma serves only for evocation and figuration, while imagery figuration is schematized mainly in the sense of the schéma, although containing the possibility of schèmes”.

Despite the differences in meanings, the term “schema” has already become established in the translation of “schème”. And if we chose “schème” instead of “scheme” to title our Journal, it was not to compete with the choice adopted, but to refer to the need for a deep study of the themes dealt with by Genetic Epistemology and Genetic Psychology..