Re: Re(2): Hair shirts, self-flagellation, and equality

Phil Graham (pw.graham who-is-at student.qut.edu.au)
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:58:40 +1100

At 09:51 22-11-98 -0700, Katherine wrote:
>some people speak of equality and the assumptions are based on a neutral,
>universal, essentialized version of a person that represents us all. but
>language supports a changeless, gendered person embodying a limited number
>of attributes that leave many (most, perhaps all) individuals with
>deficits as compared to this universal Man.

Myth is indeed a culprit, just as gendered, ethnicised, rationalised dogmas
are. Language is _able_ to support humanity and is its only hope of
progress. To say "(all?) language supports a changeless, gendered person
embodying a limited number of attributes" is a huge generalisation that is
negated in your following argument which puts forward precisely the
opposite position _in language_.

>what about a personalized, subjective, context-dependent approach?

Every approach is personalized, subjective, and especially
context-dependent. Shared experience of these is the basis of community.

>the journey of a thousand miles that begins with one step.
>the step towards my self.

Such an emphasis on self-reflexiveness is a dangerous kind of selfishness.
Today's societies are severely afflicted with a solipsism that borders on
the pathological. The trip inwards is fine, inevitable in fact, as long as
it is not at the expense of social reflexivity.
Phil Graham
pw.graham who-is-at student.qut.edu.au
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8314/index.html