Ilyenkov's dialectic.

Elena A Savina (esavina who-is-at usd.edu)
Wed, 18 Nov 1998 00:02:08 -0600 (CST)

Dear Peter, you ask me Ilyenkov' works. Of course,I know them.
He was a brilliant thinker. But I share another view on
dialectical logic. Soviet philosophers usually define dialectical logic as
a logic of content, opposite, formal logic as a logic of form. Dialectical
method is considered as application of universal dialectical categories
(such as content and form, essense and phenomena etc.) as a tool of
scientific cognition.If we assert such a distinction, we can not describe
dialectical thinking psychologically. To describe psychologically, I mean,
to find cognitive processes which constitute dialectical reasoning. So we
have to separate structural aspect of dialectical logic from its content
aspect. Some of russian philosiphers and psychologists (Losev, Batishev,
Mal'tsev, Veraksa) believe that dialectical logic has to possesses its own
form or structure. If we know some invariable dialectical structures (or
strategies)we can apply them to construct any system of concepts. Also
this idea is not well-known and popular in Russia I use this approach
because it give me the opportunity to construct subject matter
(particularly, Inrtoduction to Psychology course) as a well-structured
dialectical system of scientific concepts. And my students involve in real
process of knowledge construction which is going through the resolving of
contradictions that reflect historical process of knowledge development.
Unfortunately, the word "dialectic" has a very negative
connotation in Russia now ( because it is connected with dialectical
matherializm which was official philosophical system of communistic
regime). So, could you tell me more about your interests to dialectic and
give your mail address to send copy of my writings?
Best wishes, Elena Savina (esavina who-is-at usd.edu)