This book represents the very first, so far unpublished, translation of
Piotr Galperin's (1902-1988) dissertation, defended in 1938 during his
employment in the All-Ukrainian Psycho-Neurological Academy (AUPA) in
Kharkiv, Ukraine. In his candidate dissertation Galperin examined the
differences in tool use between humans and animals and argued that there
was a fundamental difference between tools developed and used by humans
and the auxiliary means used by animals. Galperin showed that human use
of tools totally differs from the way tools are utilised by animals as
'an extension' of their limbs. He suggested that tools created and used
by humans encapsulate cultural and historical experience developed in
human practices which have to be mastered. Human engagement with these
tools reorganise the existing and enhance the development of new
psychological functions and that human consciousness originates and
develops in the external tool-mediated activities. The development of
new psychological functions stimulates the systemic and meaningful
organisation of human consciousness. In addition, as opposed to animal
mind, human consciousness undergoes developmental transformations
initiated in tools- and speech-mediated activities.
Galperin's research reveals the unity of the external tool-mediated and
the internal psychological activity of humans. These findings are
influential as they adopted the foundations of the theory of Vygotsky
and extended them without changing the essence of Vygotsky's legacy.
Galperin's dissertation can be considered as a missing jig-saw puzzle
which connects the legacy of Vygotsky, the contribution of Leontiev and
their followers who worked in the cultural-historical and activity
traditions. This translation of the dissertation in English makes it
available for the cultural-historical scholars in the West and provides
insights into the invaluable contributions of Piotr Galperin.
