"This book explores the relationship between knowledge and context through a novel analysis of processes of representation. Sandra Jovchelovitch argues that it is through representation that we can appreciate the diversity of knowledge and it is representation that explains what links knowledge to persons, communities and cultures." "Drawing on dialogues between psychology, sociology and anthropology, Jovchelovitch explores the dominant assumptions of western conceptions of knowledge and the quest for a reason free from the 'impurities' of person, community and culture. She recasts questions related to comparisons between the knowledge of adults and children, 'civilised' and 'primitive' peoples, scientists and lay communities and examines the ambivalence of classical theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, Freud, Durkheim and Levy-Bruhl in addressing these issues."--Jacket.