Gareth Matthews on Development and Deficit

This paper argues that Gareth Matthews’ writing on developmental psychology is both a central part of his philosophical legacy and a contribution of enduring interest. Although he engages with figures, such as Piaget and Kohlberg, who are no longer as influential as they once were, his critique of the ‘deficit model of childhood’ retains its relevance today. While the deficit model holds that any capacity, aptitude, virtue or skill that a child possesses is a deficient version of the same capacity, aptitude, virtue, skill, as possessed by adults, Matthews contends that there are some things adults do badly which children do well, and that children’s curiosity, wonder and imaginative insight is something we should respect—indeed envy—and try to learn from. The paper concludes by raising a number of questions and criticisms of Matthews’ approach that his contemporary followers might fruitfully seek to address.