RE: [PEN-L:31107] Re: "Western Rationality" ----- Original Message ----- From: Devine, James To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 4:00 PM Subject: [PEN-L:31113] RE: Re: "Western Rationality"
> >Ian: > >Indeed, lots of the problems of modernity are the uses > >to which logic, scientific thinking etc. have been put and those > >problems are not reducible to the problems created by capitalism. Carl: > Yes, I think the basis of many of modern society's worst difficulties is the > pernicious objectification of the individual that results from the > scientific method, in all its many forms -- especially > including the social > sciences -- and with all its many appurtenances, including > collection and > analysis of statistics such as the jobless rate. so we shouldn't care about the number of unemployed individuals, even when this number is measured accurately, because it peniciously objectifies the individual? so if I refer to the high unemployment rate of 1933 in the United States, I am objectifying people (and doing so perniciously)? > I don't know any answer to this problem, since science is so central to modern life, but > I do see it as a problem. Scientific study by its nature puts distance > between a human observer and human subject, creates a hierarchical relationship and > deliberately limits development of empathy. I think this has had a deeply > damaging effect on human relations overall. How does scientific study do this "by its nature"? and what is the alternative to scientific thinking? By "scientific thinking," I mean thinking involving an attempt to be logical, to back up assertions with references to perceived empirical reality if possible, and trying to avoid leaving major parts of perceived reality out of the story. It involves trying to convince people of the truth of propositions rather than simply making assertions. BTW, to Ian's comment above, I agreed that bureaucratic socialism could be just as much a source of the "problems of modernity." To paraphrase Harry Braverman, the USSR imitated the capitalist world, in an effort to survive encirclement and invasion, and to catch up economically. Jim ===================== Sometimes the simplest questions catalyze the most complex thinking we're capable of. How do we conjoin the best science and logic[s] we have in the service of our most mutually enobling and enabling emotions? No platitudes allowed.... :-) Ian
