Re: ex-spurts

Robin Harwood (HARWOOD who-is-at UConnVM.UConn.Edu)
Wed, 10 Apr 96 07:47:42 EDT

Thanks, Mike, for your thoughts! I am intrigued by your statement:
> To think that there is a "one right answer" to understandig the
>implications of thinking that mind is culturally mediated/consituted is
>like thinking that there is one best flavor of ice cream. Of course, its
>chocolate, but......

Does this mean that all implications that we draw are a matter of
personal taste, and so somehow equally valid? Or are some implications
somehow "more valid" than others? (sort of like George Orwell's "all
pigs are equal, but some are more equal than others"). If there are
in fact certain principles which many seem to agree upon, then perhaps
these act as parameters to the implications that can be drawn as well.
Or is it ultimately (as in the Orwell example) a "political" thing--
certain implications and/or opinions/preferences end up carrying more
weight among a group of peers because of the reputation(s) of the
person(s) espousing them. Ideas DO have a history, and some ideas
are more likely to be carried forward and acted upon/transformed
by the next generation, whereas others simply seem to die out
forgotten. Well, now I'm all over the map here, so this is probably
a good place to stop for now...

Robin