The Learnable Theory[1] is a theoretical framework that explores the interplay between cognition, language, and culture in shaping human understanding and behaviours. It stresses the influence of a few very specific features of human neural systems that limit our access to reality, determining the learnables. Learnables are interactively formed and recognised within a community. They reflect the constraints and possibilities of human access to reality and guide attention, perception, problem-solving, and interactions.

Learnable Theory draws on Critical Realism[2] and examines how language, beliefs, metaphors, and similes contribute to the construction and elaboration of learnables. It recognises the recursive effects of past experiences and knowledge and highlights the role of symbolic systems in shaping human cognition.

Learnable Theory offers insights into the impact of cultural and social factors on individual and collective cognition. It emphasises the importance of language and symbolic representations in mediating our relationship with reality. It suggests that by understanding the learnable and its influence on cognition, individuals and societies can become more aware of the biases and constraints that shape their thinking, enabling them to critically engage with language and expand their cognitive horizons.

Learnable Theory has implications for various disciplines, including linguistics, psychology, sociology, and management studies. It provides a framework for analysing the role of language and culture in shaping human cognition and behaviour and offers a basis for understanding the dynamics of learning, knowledge acquisition, and social interaction.

Overall, the Learnable Theory contributes to our understanding of how language, culture, and cognition intersect and provides a valuable perspective for exploring the complexities of human thought and behaviour in diverse contexts.

References

  1. ^ Magni, L., Marchetti, G., & Alharbi, A. (2023). Learnable Theory and Analysis. Luiss University Press, Rome, IT.
  2. ^ Magni, L. (2011). Research proposal for the application of critical discourse analysis to the study of learning cultures. Journal of Critical Realism, 10(4), 527–542.