Nechayev. [On the possibility of reintegration of cultural-historical psychology by L. S. Vygotsky and activity theory by A. Leontiev]

Abstract:
The problem of relationships between cultural-historical theory by L. Vygotsky and activity theory by A. N. Leontiev is considered here. Based on the ideas of their continuity, the author analyzes essence of fundamental differences in approaches of those two prominent psychologists. At the same time, the materials of scientific publications of L. Vygotsky and A. Leontiev are used by him, including those, not widely known to our psychological community, as well as some facts of their scientific biographies. The central place is occupied here by the problem of tools and signs and its various interpretations in the works of L. Vygotsky and A. Leontiev. It was shown that this problem was “removed” when included into paradigm of joint activity, in which the subject (child) masters the methods of activity within a certain system of relations with other participants in the activity (adults), and the resolution of contradictions that mature in course of joint activity between changing ways activity and a transforming system of relations, constitutes the main mechanism for the development of the subject. Thus, objective activity and communication, conditioning each other, find their place in the context of solving problems of joint activity, which allows us to speak about the possibilities of reintegration of the cultural-historical theory by L. Vygotsky and activity theory by A. Leontiev.