From agent.redstone at yahoo.com Sat Apr 5 18:31:03 2008 From: agent.redstone at yahoo.com (Fred Zaman) Date: Sat, 5 Apr 2008 17:31:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Critical-Realism] Methodological Naturalism v. Methodological Humanism In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <15619.84852.qm@web63611.mail.re1.yahoo.com> To all, An off-list reader, upon reading the below, asked if any of the various esoteric schools of thought had influenced me over the years, to which I replied: What first impelled me along the pathway of understanding I have followed consistently over the years was a nouveau analog of Einstein?s famous ?elevator experiment? regarding the absence of external gravitational forces. The lasting result of this seminal thought experiment, the ?critical realism? of which I recently have come to regard as a ?Methodological Humanism? (vis-?-vis the Methodological Naturalism of conventional science), is the understanding that in truth there are no external forces anywhere, either in the spacetime of the cosmos or in the spacetime of our individual lives. What I consistently study and write about is simply the consequence of this relativistic-like understanding as it is applied to that world we as humans directly experience. We each in essence follow a trajectory in the personal spacetime of our lives created by our intentions, purposes, and objectives, absolutely free of all ?external forces.? And the same is true of course of the spacetime of that society of which Americans are each a part, which as exemplified in the essay referenced below, is in principle completely free of external forces. It turns out that there are numerous points of contact between what I have come to understand about the fundamental nature of human nature and the ?esoteric? worldview, but esotericism per se has not been the driving force behind my theoretical development. --------------------------------------------------------- A vocal supporter of natural science once wrote: ?One justification put forward by religious critics for dismissing science is its apparent uncertainty. They observe that today?s scientific explanation of something will sooner or later be replaced by a different one, so why invest anything in it? Their religion, they say, already has the Final Word, the perfect explanation of everything. This view is three players short of a trio, however. First, it does not grasp that future theories in science will be accepted because they make superior explanations and predictions--which is progress you could not make if you insisted the old theory was perfect. As well, science energetically corrects itself. If a finding is misleading, say due to some methodological error, other scientists will discover that and set things straight. Every year a new batch of scientists graduates, and many of them--as indeed they were trained to do--take dead aim on the scientific Establishment. In religion you might get branded a heretic, or worse, for challenging dogma. In science you?ll get promoted and gather research grants, as ye may if you knock an established explanation off its perch. Orthodoxy in science has a big bulls-eye painted on it. The religious critics? harboring of beliefs about the supposed fallacies of science may be comforting. Without any objective evidence, however, such beliefs are only of use to the ones holding them. The evidence of science so far is FOR the mechanistic forces of nature, not the metaphysical forces of religious faith.? ---------------------------- The above argument is easily reversed, however: The most basic of fallacies of science may be it?s a priori assumed ?Methodological Naturalism? in which mechanism is mounted on a pedestal. Perhaps it is now time for the mechanistically-grounded ?Methodological Naturalism? of the natural sciences, the foundational orthodoxy of science currently accepted by the scientific Establishment as the Final Word, in which the natural being of men and women is- -according to established physical theory--blindly mechanistic and absolutely devoid of purpose, to be knocked ?off its perch?; through the formulation of alternative non-mechanistic accounts in which man and nature become one in principle and theory without sacrificing that which makes us really human--our clearly demonstrable intentionality, purposefulness and goal-oriented nature. Or is any challenge to current scientific dogma regarding the mechanistic character of nature, and thus of humankind?s ?natural being? as well, too heretical? Is this one challenge for which no natural scientist foolish enough to accept will get promoted and gather research grants? Is this one bulls-eye whose bullet will be universally dodged by the Establishment, because of the blind adherence of natural science today to the orthodoxy of what the Establishment euphemistically calls ?Methodological Naturalism.? ---------------------------------------------------- Paraphrasing in more detail, from this diametrically opposed, contra scientistic viewpoint, the vocal supporter of natural science first quoted: You will sometimes hear ?unbelievers? dismiss religion because of its supposed lack of correspondence with reality. They observe that today?s religious explanations will sooner or later be replaced by different ones that are science based, so why invest anything in them? The unbelievers? de facto secular religion, the foundational a priori assumption called Methodological Naturalism, already has the Final Word, they say, the ultimately perfect explanation of everything. And what explanation does Methodological Naturalism provide regarding the intentionality, purposefulness, and goal-oriented behavior of human beings? They are explained away as being nothing more than comforting myths, beliefs that fundamentally are not true, but which nevertheless are helpful--perhaps even necessary--in dealing with life?s problems. This ?scientistic? view of human nature is three players short of a trio, however. First, it does not grasp that future methodologies in science, which will replace the current Methodological Naturalism, will be accepted because they make superior explanations and predictions about what it is to be human--which is progress the human sciences cannot make if they continue to accept Methodological Naturalism as the standard of science. The human sciences to the contrary will energetically correct themselves. If Methodological Naturalism can be shown to be misleading both science and the world-at-large about the nature of what it is to be human, say due to a ?methodological error? concerning the real nature of the human being, other scientists will discover that and set things straight. Every year a new batch of scientists graduates, and some them sooner or later will take dead aim--as they are trained to do in general--on the current orthodoxy of Methodological Naturalism. However, those so unfortunate enough to pursue this objective at first may well be branded a heretic, or worse, for challenging this foundational dogma of natural science; by trying to knock the scientific orthodoxy of Methodological Naturalism off its perch. Nevertheless, orthodoxy in science does have a big bulls-eye painted on it. And those that come up with a better scientific account of what it is to be human, perhaps through an alternative Methodological Humanism, will become the immortals of science in the new millennium. Natural scientists love to harbor the comforting belief of Methodological Naturalism. Without any substantiating evidence regarding the supposed absence of actual intentionality and purposefulness in human behavior, however, and indeed there is none whatever, it is only of use to those dogmatically holding this belief as required for the advancement of their career in science. For the rest of humanity, this belief is absolutely useless and without merit, even patently harmful. The evidence so far, in regard to what it is to be human, is clearly FOR the existence of human intentionality and purposefulness. --------------------------------------------------------- Science definitely should not, and indeed cannot, be dismissed. But its fundamentally erroneous premise of Methodological Naturalism, as a cover for its blind dismissal of an intentionality and purposefulness whose reality make the human being far more than just a ?complex mechanism,? should be exposed for both its deceit and deception. The following essay just completed, the substance of which implies that the greatest ?methodological error? of science in fact has been the a priori assumption of Methodological Naturalism, provides one such approach to challenging the scientific Establishment in this new millennium. This essay, advancing a 21st century ?Methodological Humanism,? does not question the power of science to improve human understanding about the world. Rather it develops a new, humanist-friendly conceptual framework for the advancement of science. Methodological Humanism: The Intentional Motive Powers of an ?Aristonian? Causality and Intentionality L. Frederick Zaman Abstract. A newly minted ?Aristonian? (Newtonian-grounded Aristotelian) theory of Intentional Motive Powers--?IMPS? in nature and society--theoretically grounds a nouveau sociology of American macrohistory. The ?natural man? is Newtonian according to physical theory?s positivistic ?logical empiricism,? meaning that humankind?s natural being is blindly mechanistic and human intentionality and purposefulness is in reality only ?folk psychology?--a time-honored myth. In this essay?s IMPS theory, however, humankind?s natural being is both Aristotelian and Newtonian--meaning intentionally, purposefully, and intelligently ?mechanistic?; a transformation achieved by conceptually reframing the laws of Newtonian physics (and those of the natural sciences in general) within a modern formulation of the four Aristotelian causes: formal, efficient, material, and final In this theory of IMPS, ?formal causes? (intentional motive powers in nature and society) utilize nature?s ?efficient causes? (laws of physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) and ?material causes? (physical substances, components, structures) as the instruments of ?final causes? (intentions, purposes, goals). The physical and life sciences are thereby unified through a causality that is both Newtonian and Aristotelian. IMPS, a theory of intentional motive powers grounded on a critical realist reading of Aristonian formal causes of social structure in which agents never exist independent of structure but instead are always structurally embedded, is applied to the four hundred year macrohistory--circa 1650 to the present and beyond into the future (2050)--of an American capitalist ethic de facto constituting a secularized ideology qua political theology. IMPS is a high-level Methodological Humanism, of agency embedded in structure and vice-versa, whose ontology of causation is fundamentally ?critical realist.? Structure and agency are causally intertwined in this humanism through the intentionality, purposefulness and goal-seeking of embedded IMPS--structure and agency both exist in this Aristonian theory because one is irreducible to the other. Nature?s laws are the instruments by which structurally- embedded IMPS are empowered, whether in nature or society. Applied to continually evolving civil power in an American macrohistory as exemplar, IMPS theory serves as the theoretical foundation for a nouveau sociology that examines the different ways in which American society historically has been perceived by--and responded to--by America?s capitalist ethic. IMPS at the same time stands as a sociological critique (critical theory) of the blindly mechanistic worldview--i.e. ?Methodological Naturalism?--of that preeminent culture of modernity called natural science. This theory of ?intentional motive powers,? in showing the possibility that intentional powers materially existing in nature and society utilize nature?s laws as the instruments of their causality, may produce a sea change in modernity?s intellectual understanding of the universe. Explaining the world from a Methodological Humanist point of view, the world as humanly experienced and lived in, is not something that scientists generally spend much time or effort on. They generally spend their time deconstructing the commonsensical abstractly in the terms of science informed by Methodological Naturalism. The present essay does, however, explain--in nouveau science informed by a Methodological Humanism--the world as humanly experienced and lived in. --------------------------------- You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. From mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk Sun Apr 6 06:21:00 2008 From: mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk (Mervyn Hartwig) Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2008 13:21:00 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] CR and Education Conference Message-ID: Hi listers Here is the URL for the CR and Education Conference at the Institute of Education, London, July 18-20: http://www.ioe.ac.uk/conferences/criticalrealism Mervyn From mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk Mon Apr 7 10:53:05 2008 From: mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk (Mervyn Hartwig) Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 17:53:05 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Bhaskar's out of print books Message-ID: Listers might be interested to know that Routledge is reprinting all of Bhaskar's Verso titles (with Introductions by myself) as follows: RTS July 2008 DPF July 2008 SRHE September 2008 RR February 2009 PE September 2009 Verso has meanwhile reissued RTS in its Radical Thinkers series and has agreed to reprint on demand the other titles until the end of the month before the new Routledge editions are due to be published. "Reprint on demand" means that they will produce a new copy of a book whenever required; so that the books will not be "out of print" any longer. Mervyn From dbrereton at comcast.net Mon Apr 7 22:09:33 2008 From: dbrereton at comcast.net (Derek P. Brereton) Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:09:33 -0400 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Critical-Realism Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Excellent news on the Verso re-releases, Mervyn! I'll have to get them just to read your intros!! Soaring Hill languishes for poets of true quality, such as have all too infrequently visited from the motherland, source of true cultivation and inspiration. But there has been one new entry, as a result of a failed attempt to fly the kite Pam and I made Marley. It crashed and broke. Hence, The winds of March upon the brow To fly our kite would not allow; Such dreadful sorrow for we and thou. Derek From mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk Tue Apr 8 04:42:59 2008 From: mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk (Mervyn Hartwig) Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:42:59 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Critical-Realism Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: If you're nice to me I guess I could send you the Intros. I don't get royalties, only a flat fee. Typos are being corrected in the books, otherwise no changes. If you change "we and thou" to "us and thou" you will be approximating genuine motherland quality. But Soaring Hill was made for kite So we'll try again with all our might Mervyn -----Original Message----- From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Derek P. Brereton Sent: 08 April 2008 05:10 To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] Critical-Realism Digest, Vol 42, Issue 1 Excellent news on the Verso re-releases, Mervyn! I'll have to get them just to read your intros!! Soaring Hill languishes for poets of true quality, such as have all too infrequently visited from the motherland, source of true cultivation and inspiration. But there has been one new entry, as a result of a failed attempt to fly the kite Pam and I made Marley. It crashed and broke. Hence, The winds of March upon the brow To fly our kite would not allow; Such dreadful sorrow for we and thou. Derek _______________________________________________ Critical-Realism mailing list Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism __________ NOD32 3007 (20080407) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com From mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk Tue Apr 8 05:13:48 2008 From: mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk (Mervyn Hartwig) Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 12:13:48 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Apologies Message-ID: Apoligies, listers, for inadvertently sending a private email a bit earlier today. Mervyn From dogangoecmen at aol.com Tue Apr 8 05:15:47 2008 From: dogangoecmen at aol.com (dogangoecmen at aol.com) Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:15:47 -0400 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Apologies In-Reply-To: <5tg2f4$6hgfpc@smtp1.utah.edu> References: <5tg2f4$6hgfpc@smtp1.utah.edu> Message-ID: <8CA678107920722-D2C-3C1A@mblk-d22.sysops.aol.com> Mervyn, no need for apologies. We know you have sense of humour. Dogan -----Urspr?ngliche Mitteilung----- Von: Mervyn Hartwig An: 'Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List' Verschickt: Di., 8. Apr. 2008, 13:13 Thema: [Critical-Realism] Apologies Apoligies, listers, for inadvertently sending a private email a bit earlier today. Mervyn _______________________________________________ Critical-Realism mailing list Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism ________________________________________________________________________ Bei AOL gibt's jetzt kostenlos eMail f?r alle. Klicken Sie auf AOL.de um heraus zu finden, was es sonst noch kostenlos bei AOL gibt. From m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Thu Apr 10 00:46:12 2008 From: m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au (m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:46:12 +1000 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality Message-ID: Hello Listers, I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in Bhaskar's philosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an explanation of how the potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied personality. I can't seem to find any comments relating to this. Thanks, Melanie From dave at malvernl.freeserve.co.uk Thu Apr 10 01:56:07 2008 From: dave at malvernl.freeserve.co.uk (Dave Taylor) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:56:07 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Hi Melanie Try page 290-1 in the Sage pbk of Meta-Reality vol 1, paying particular attention to the words "topology" and "circumnavigates". Then consider how surface tension navigates ocean spray, and a horseshoe magnet can be closed by connecting one side to the other with an iron bar (i.e. an easy path for its magnetism)to form a magnetic loop. Then consider the "ground-state" as energy detectable in the form of electromagnetic waves, and the possibility of the "heights" and "troughs" of these waves (+ and - electrical forces) being attracted to each other - not to cancel each other out but to circumnavigate each other in the form of stable "spray", viz a free-standing superconducting current. The point of this is its directionality. Whereas the wavefront of the "ground-state" energy of the Big Bang was expanding in all three directions, this particle of self-captured energy is circumnavigating an effectively one-dimensional "tube" defining a two-dimesionala plane, the orientation of which can vary in all three dimensions as this electron is buffeted by the forces of the still-evolving parts of the universe. Applying this to your field of interest, "the embodied personality", I am suggesting that Bhaskar's intuitive or mystical choice of words is conveying something like my model in the abstract, as universal. Consider, then how we extract energy from food as we circulate it through our body; how this extracted energy remains captured in the simpler form of sugar molecules circulated through the heart and lugs, where it is oxygenated; how the heart then pumps it round the body to all the places ground-state energy is needed, where the sugars are burnt to release the energy contained in them; how in the nervous system the residues left between "sparking" cells eventually form bridges or paths between mutually interacting cells which redirect the electricity circulating between cells and the energy-laden fluids between them, these having properties identical to those of an electical battery. Which cells spark depends on yet another type of circuit in which not energy but information circulates, hitch-hiking its way through space on whatever medium (eg electromagenetic energy, atomic pressure waves) happen to be around before being transformed in our bodies and the residue recycled in the form of our actions. In short, retroducing back from what we see as far as we can, we find the ultimate questions concern the Big Bang. Using the traditional model of the energetic wind (which is what the word Spirit means), these question are about why the Big Bang happened, and would it have happened if (say) the release of energy had taken place along a line rather than from a point? Dave -- Dave -----Original Message----- From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Sent: 10 April 2008 07:46 To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality Hello Listers, I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in Bhaskar's philosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an explanation of how the potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied personality. I can't seem to find any comments relating to this. Thanks, Melanie _______________________________________________ Critical-Realism mailing list Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism From m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Thu Apr 10 03:17:04 2008 From: m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au (m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:17:04 +1000 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality In-Reply-To: <5tg2f4$6ia1b6@smtp1.utah.edu> References: <5tg2f4$6ia1b6@smtp1.utah.edu> Message-ID: Thank you Dave! I thought I might be able to count on you. The pages that you referred me to were very helpful, and your response has given me lots to think about. Warm wishes, Melanie ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Taylor Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:56 pm Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality To: 'Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List' > Hi Melanie > > Try page 290-1 in the Sage pbk of Meta-Reality vol 1, paying > particularattention to the words "topology" and > "circumnavigates". Then consider how > surface tension navigates ocean spray, and a horseshoe magnet > can be closed > by connecting one side to the other with an iron bar (i.e. an > easy path for > its magnetism)to form a magnetic loop. Then consider the > "ground-state" as > energy detectable in the form of electromagnetic waves, and the > possibilityof the "heights" and "troughs" of these waves (+ and - > electrical forces) > being attracted to each other - not to cancel each other > out but to > circumnavigate each other in the form of stable "spray", viz a > free-standing > superconducting current. The point of this is its > directionality. Whereas > the wavefront of the "ground-state" energy of the Big Bang was > expanding in > all three directions, this particle of self-captured energy is > circumnavigating an effectively one-dimensional "tube" defining a > two-dimesionala plane, the orientation of which can vary in all three > dimensions as this electron is buffeted by the forces of the > still-evolving > parts of the universe. > > Applying this to your field of interest, "the embodied > personality", I am > suggesting that Bhaskar's intuitive or mystical choice of words > is conveying > something like my model in the abstract, as universal. > Consider, then how > we extract energy from food as we circulate it through our body; > how this > extracted energy remains captured in the simpler form of sugar > moleculescirculated through the heart and lugs, where it is > oxygenated; how the heart > then pumps it round the body to all the places ground-state > energy is > needed, where the sugars are burnt to release the energy > contained in them; > how in the nervous system the residues left between "sparking" cells > eventually form bridges or paths between mutually interacting > cells which > redirect the electricity circulating between cells and the > energy-laden > fluids between them, these having properties identical to those > of an > electical battery. Which cells spark depends on yet > another type of circuit > in which not energy but information circulates, hitch-hiking its > way through > space on whatever medium (eg electromagenetic energy, atomic > pressure waves) > happen to be around before being transformed in our bodies and > the residue > recycled in the form of our actions. > > In short, retroducing back from what we see as far as we can, we > find the > ultimate questions concern the Big Bang. Using the > traditional model of the > energetic wind (which is what the word Spirit means), these > question are > about why the Big Bang happened, and would it have happened if > (say) the > release of energy had taken place along a line rather than from > a point? > > Dave > > > > > > > -- > > Dave > > -----Original Message----- > From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu > [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of > m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au > Sent: 10 April 2008 07:46 > To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality > > Hello Listers, > I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in > Bhaskar'sphilosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an > explanation of how the > potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied > personality. I > can't seem to find any comments relating to this. > Thanks, > Melanie > _______________________________________________ > Critical-Realism mailing list > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Critical-Realism mailing list > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > Melanie McDonald PhD Candidate School of Education Southern Cross University Lismore 2480 Australia From mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk Thu Apr 10 03:54:52 2008 From: mh at jaspere7.demon.co.uk (Mervyn Hartwig) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:54:52 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Hi Melanie How does a potential actualise? How does a seed grow into a tree? We can give an account of many of the processes involved and yet not be able to give anything like a complete explanatory account either in general or in particular concrete cases. As I see it Bhaskar gives an abstract general account of what is involved in realising the potential of the ground-state, but not an account of how it happens in any particular concrete case. As you're doubtless aware he does this under three broad headings, at various places throughout all the meta-Reality books as well as in From East to West: dialecics of inaction (of access to the ground-state, witnessing and watching) dialectics of shedding of or disidentification with heteronomous orders of determination dialectics of engagement (of action, including spontaneous right action, and praxis), which are essentially about transformation, including transformation of the inner self. Hope this helps, Mervyn -----Original Message----- From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Sent: 10 April 2008 07:46 To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality Hello Listers, I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in Bhaskar's philosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an explanation of how the potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied personality. I can't seem to find any comments relating to this. Thanks, Melanie _______________________________________________ Critical-Realism mailing list Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism __________ NOD32 3014 (20080409) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com From m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Thu Apr 10 05:02:22 2008 From: m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au (m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au) Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:02:22 +1000 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality In-Reply-To: <5tg2f4$6ianvr@smtp1.utah.edu> References: <5tg2f4$6ianvr@smtp1.utah.edu> Message-ID: Thanks Mervyn, You asked me 'how does a potential actualise?' and I found myself (that is, the consciousness of my embodied personality) accessing what might have been the consciousness of my ground-state, quietly witnessing the passing of thoughts. At some point I realised that what I was trying to get at with my query was more about how the potentials of the ground-state become 'durable and transposable dispositions' in the embodied personality. It does seem to involve dialectics of inaction, dialectics of shedding and dialectics of engagement. I think these later two shed light on another concern of mine: if/how social structures and subsequent interactions influence the unfolding of the enfolded properties of the ground-state in the embodied personality. Once again, thank you. Melanie ----- Original Message ----- From: Mervyn Hartwig Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:55 pm Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality To: 'Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List' > Hi Melanie > > > > How does a potential actualise? How does a seed grow into a > tree? We can > give an account of many of the processes involved and yet not be > able to > give anything like a complete explanatory account either in > general or in > particular concrete cases. > > > > As I see it Bhaskar gives an abstract general account of what is > involved in > realising the potential of the ground-state, but not an account > of how it > happens in any particular concrete case. As you're doubtless > aware he does > this under three broad headings, at various places throughout > all the > meta-Reality books as well as in From East to West: > > > > dialecics of inaction (of access to the ground-state, witnessing and > watching) > > dialectics of shedding of or disidentification with heteronomous > orders of > determination > > dialectics of engagement (of action, including spontaneous right > action, and > praxis), which are essentially about transformation, including > transformation of the inner self. > > > > Hope this helps, > > > > Mervyn > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu > [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of > m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au > Sent: 10 April 2008 07:46 > To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality > > > > Hello Listers, > > I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in > Bhaskar'sphilosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an > explanation of how the > potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied > personality. I > can't seem to find any comments relating to this. > > Thanks, > > Melanie > > _______________________________________________ > > Critical-Realism mailing list > > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > > > > __________ NOD32 3014 (20080409) Information __________ > > > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Critical-Realism mailing list > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > Melanie McDonald PhD Candidate School of Education Southern Cross University Lismore 2480 Australia From dave at malvernl.freeserve.co.uk Fri Apr 11 08:13:48 2008 From: dave at malvernl.freeserve.co.uk (Dave Taylor) Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:13:48 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Thanks for the thanks, Melanie! Given my account of the formation of an electron from ground-state energy at the Big Bang, see if you can see the elusive mechanism explaining gravitation forces. It's obvious once you see it! These insights stem incidentally from reaction to the instability of Whitehead's theory of process as the intersection of events, but the clue to gravity - given both the expansion of the universe and localisation of part of its ground-state energy - may be nevertheless be found in this sentence from W.'s "Adventures of Ideas" : "The physical things ... are each to be conceived as modifications of conditions within space-time, extending throughout its whole range". [Cit. Lawrence Bright's "Whitehead's Philosophy of Physics", No 3 of the Newman Philosophy of Science Series", published by Sheed & Ward in 1958 for the Newman Association. This is finally about to start cataloguing its archives, which my car is currently full of]! Dave -----Original Message----- From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au Sent: 10 April 2008 10:17 To: Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality Thank you Dave! I thought I might be able to count on you. The pages that you referred me to were very helpful, and your response has given me lots to think about. Warm wishes, Melanie ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Taylor Date: Thursday, April 10, 2008 5:56 pm Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality To: 'Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List' > Hi Melanie > > Try page 290-1 in the Sage pbk of Meta-Reality vol 1, paying > particularattention to the words "topology" and "circumnavigates". > Then consider how surface tension navigates ocean spray, and a > horseshoe magnet can be closed by connecting one side to the other > with an iron bar (i.e. an easy path for its magnetism)to form a > magnetic loop. Then consider the "ground-state" as energy detectable > in the form of electromagnetic waves, and the possibilityof the > "heights" and "troughs" of these waves (+ and - electrical forces) > being attracted to each other - not to cancel each other out but to > circumnavigate each other in the form of stable "spray", viz a > free-standing superconducting current. The point of this is its > directionality. Whereas the wavefront of the "ground-state" energy of > the Big Bang was expanding in all three directions, this particle of > self-captured energy is circumnavigating an effectively > one-dimensional "tube" defining a two-dimesionala plane, the > orientation of which can vary in all three dimensions as this electron > is buffeted by the forces of the still-evolving parts of the universe. > > Applying this to your field of interest, "the embodied personality", I > am suggesting that Bhaskar's intuitive or mystical choice of words is > conveying something like my model in the abstract, as universal. > Consider, then how > we extract energy from food as we circulate it through our body; how > this extracted energy remains captured in the simpler form of sugar > moleculescirculated through the heart and lugs, where it is > oxygenated; how the heart then pumps it round the body to all the > places ground-state energy is needed, where the sugars are burnt to > release the energy contained in them; how in the nervous system the > residues left between "sparking" cells eventually form bridges or > paths between mutually interacting cells which redirect the > electricity circulating between cells and the energy-laden fluids > between them, these having properties identical to those of an > electical battery. Which cells spark depends on yet another type of > circuit in which not energy but information circulates, hitch-hiking > its way through space on whatever medium (eg electromagenetic energy, > atomic pressure waves) happen to be around before being transformed in > our bodies and the residue recycled in the form of our actions. > > In short, retroducing back from what we see as far as we can, we find > the ultimate questions concern the Big Bang. Using the traditional > model of the energetic wind (which is what the word Spirit means), > these question are about why the Big Bang happened, and would it have > happened if > (say) the > release of energy had taken place along a line rather than from a > point? > > Dave > > > > > > > -- > > Dave > > -----Original Message----- > From: critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu > [mailto:critical-realism-bounces at lists.econ.utah.edu] On Behalf Of > m.mcdonald.10 at scu.edu.au > Sent: 10 April 2008 07:46 > To: critical-realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > Subject: [Critical-Realism] from ground-state to embodied personality > > Hello Listers, > I am wondering if anyone can refer me to particular places in > Bhaskar'sphilosophy of meta-Reality in which he offers an explanation > of how the potential of the ground-state actualises in the embodied > personality. I can't seem to find any comments relating to this. > Thanks, > Melanie > _______________________________________________ > Critical-Realism mailing list > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Critical-Realism mailing list > Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism > Melanie McDonald PhD Candidate School of Education Southern Cross University Lismore 2480 Australia _______________________________________________ Critical-Realism mailing list Critical-Realism at lists.econ.utah.edu http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism From matonianuk at yahoo.co.uk Sat Apr 12 05:42:35 2008 From: matonianuk at yahoo.co.uk (Karl Maton) Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:42:35 +1000 Subject: [Critical-Realism] New Critical Realism Seminar Message-ID: <4800A02B.7070904@yahoo.co.uk> Engaging Realism AACR Seminars and Discussions The Australasian Association for Critical Realism (AACR)is pleased to announce the latest in a new series of seminars and discussions, to be held at the University of Sydney. Thursday 15th November, 6.30pm Seminar Room 435, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney (please note new venue) Depth Realism, Ontological Priority and Explanation: Three case studies Assoc Prof Brian Pinkstone School of Economics and Finance, UWS Foundation Chair, Australasian Association for Critical Realism Engaging Realism is a new series of seminars and discussions of readings organised by the AACR. They are open to anyone interested in coming and engaging with realist ideas. Neither speakers nor other participants need be 'critical realists' - the aim is to open up and encourage debate and discussion. We adjourn to the pub afterwards as well. PLEASE send this on to anyone in your Dept or Faculty you think might be interested! Thanks. -- With best wishes, Karl ---- Dr Karl Maton Department of Sociology & Social Policy Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney http://www.KarlMaton.com Editorial Board, Journal of Critical Realism General Secretary, Australasian Association for Critical Realism From matonianuk at yahoo.co.uk Sat Apr 12 07:43:54 2008 From: matonianuk at yahoo.co.uk (Karl Maton) Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:43:54 +1000 Subject: [Critical-Realism] New Critical Realism Seminar - DATE CORRECTION Message-ID: <4800BC9A.9040302@yahoo.co.uk> Apologies - incorrect date on previous email Engaging Realism AACR Seminars and Discussions The Australasian Association for Critical Realism (AACR)is pleased to announce the latest in a new series of seminars and discussions, to be held at the University of Sydney. Thursday 24th April, 6.30pm Seminar Room 435, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney (please note new venue) Depth Realism, Ontological Priority and Explanation: Three case studies Assoc Prof Brian Pinkstone School of Economics and Finance, UWS Foundation Chair, Australasian Association for Critical Realism Engaging Realism is a new series of seminars and discussions of readings organised by the AACR. They are open to anyone interested in coming and engaging with realist ideas. Neither speakers nor other participants need be 'critical realists' - the aim is to open up and encourage debate and discussion. We adjourn to the pub afterwards as well. PLEASE send this on to anyone in your Dept or Faculty you think might be interested! Thanks. -- With best wishes, Karl ---- Dr Karl Maton Department of Sociology & Social Policy Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney http://www.KarlMaton.com Editorial Board, Journal of Critical Realism General Secretary, Australasian Association for Critical Realism From bwanika at yahoo.com Mon Apr 14 12:52:49 2008 From: bwanika at yahoo.com (BD_wanika) Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:52:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Critical-Realism] (no subject) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <601650.33236.qm@web58401.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Vice chancellor position Kyambogo University is a Public University in Uganda, East Africa which was established, on 18th July 2003 by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act as amended and statutory instrument No. 37 of 2003. The University was established upon the merger of the former Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo, Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education. The main campus of the University is located on Kyambogo Hill in the city of Kampala. Kyambogo University is a unique University which has adopted an integrated approach to education focused on vocationalizing education at all levels. The University has embraced the fields of Science, Technology, Humanities, Education and Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation as its core areas of training and research. Currently the University has 55 affiliated institutions across the country. Kyambogo University's Mission is "To advance and promote knowledge and development of skills in Science, Technology and Education, and in such other fields having regard to quality, equity, progress and transformation of society". Kyambogo University prides itself in providing knowledge and skills for service. Kyambogo University is seeking applications from suitably qualified persons who are accomplished academically and socially to take up the position of Vice Chancellor. Kyambogo University is an equal opportunities employer; both women and men who meet the requirements are encouraged to apply. MAJOR ROLES OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR: i) The Vice Chancellor is the Chief Executive of the University and shall be responsible to the University Council. ii) He/She shall be responsible for the academic, administrative and financial affairs of the University and shall in the absence of the Chancellor preside at ceremonial assemblies and congregations of the University and confer degrees and other academic titles and distinctions of the University. KEY ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR: i) Advises Council on all matters pertaining to the University. ii) Provides academic leadership to the University. iii) Is responsible for the administrative and financial affairs of the University. iv) Coordinates the development of plans, policies and programmes based on the University's mission and vision. v) Mobilizes the resources necessary for the implementation of the University plans, policies, and programmes. vi) Spearheads staff and student welfare programmes. vii) Represents the University in different fora in order to promote awareness and understanding of the University's mission, vision, plans, policies and programmes. viii) Ensures optimal utilization of available resources: QUALIFICATIONS: i) He/She should hold a PhD. from a recognized institution. ii) He/She must be at Professorial level at a recognized institution. iii) He/She should be between 40 and 65 years of age. DESIRABLE QUALITIES (i) Should be known in international circles, especially academic ones. (ii) Should be visionary and a strategic thinker. (iii) Should be able to inspire confidence and loyalty. (iv) Should be receptive to change. (v) Should be a person of integrity and sensitive to quality and equity. (vi) Should possess a track record of ability to mobilize and manage resources. EXPERIENCE: (i) Should possess a track record of management and administration. (ii) Should have a track record of teaching, research and publication. (iii) Should have managerial experience in an Institution at a level of a University. (iv) Should possess experience in managing large projects. REMUNERATION: Attractive and negotiable. TENURE OF APPOINTMENT: A five - year contract and renewable for one more term subject to satisfactory performance. HOW TO APPLY: Six copies of applications each duly signed together with detailed curriculum vitae, certificates, copies of three best publications and three sealed letters of reference two of which should be from persons in the academic field. The application envelopes which should be clearly marked "POST OF VICE CHANCELLOR" should reach the address below or be hand delivered to the office of the University Secretary not later than 5.00p.m. of 21st April, 2008. N.B: Those who had earlier applied need not apply. THE UNIVERSITY SECRETARY, KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY, SECOND FLOOR, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, P.O. BOX 1, KYAMBOGO, KAMPALA - UGANDA. For more information visit our website: www.kyambogo.ac.ug --------------------------------- Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference From ehrbar at lists.econ.utah.edu Wed Apr 23 01:48:31 2008 From: ehrbar at lists.econ.utah.edu (ehrbar) Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:48:31 -0600 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Critical Realist Studies of Non-Capitalist Societies Message-ID: A student with an Economics major who took my undergraduate Marxism class is asking where he can do graduate studies in anthropology perhaps with a Marxist bent. After getting a glimpse of the workings of capitalism he is interested how non-capitalist societies work. Since the Marxism I teach is shot through with critical realism I think he would probably be happiest with a Department that takes a critical realist approach, either anthropology or sociology or something similar. Can he find this in the US or do I have to send him to the UK? He is also asking about literature. Are there books which apply the TMSA to non-capitalist societies? Thank you for any advice you'd have Hans Ehrbar From dermotpmurphy at ntlworld.com Wed Apr 30 23:45:16 2008 From: dermotpmurphy at ntlworld.com (Dermot Murphy) Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 06:45:16 +0100 Subject: [Critical-Realism] Critical Realism and Management References: Message-ID: <001301c8ab4e$89ae7610$6402a8c0@colleen> I am working with a student who is undertaking a dissertation and is interested in critical realism as a research methodology and any specific work applying CR to management theory. She already has some literature but any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks Dermot