Mike,
What can the Jensen stuff inspire among a group already committed to the
cultural historical nature of the mind (a commitment within which there are
obviously wide differences), especially since it seems that everyone is
aware of him (how could one not be aware?) I'd be curious to know why you
think the obvious issue that Rachel first raised concerning the racial
category "black, Afro-american, etc" hasn't been sufficient to widely
discredit him. It doesn't surprise me that Jensen exists, what surprises is
the wide spread willingness to entertain these ideas among folks who you
would think should know better. It's almost as though he would have to
prove a "dumb gene", absolutely dominant, that African ancestry brings. But
even then, the existence of different "races" in Africa (Bantu, Nilotic,
etc.) would be necessary.
On another front, both Rachel and Nate invoked class or social-class as the
underlying reality of race in America. Class is a very disputed term
itself. I'd like to hear more about how they use this concept. What are
classes? How are the formed? What is the relationship of class and class
consciousness? Are they identical or is it possible that there are classes
in themselves but not for themselves? Alternatively, does class exist as a
purely cultural phenomena or is it tied to trans-cultural economic relations
(i.e.., relationship to the means of production independent of class =>
bourgeoisie is bourgeoisie whatever their ethnic origin; working class
consciousness emerges as a consequence of the economic relation of wage
labor)? What reproduces class relations and how is ones position in a class
system determined?
There's a lot of questions in this area that would seem important to CHAT
especially since Engestrom expanded the triangle and included division of
labor creating a possibility to link psychological analyses to substantive
economic analysis.
Paul H. Dillon
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Cole <mcole@weber.ucsd.edu>
To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 10:56 AM
Subject: want more?
>
> Rachel, Paul, Nate, et. al--
>
> I am glad the posting re Jensen are energizing if not inspiring. Note that
> various commentators have adopted some, but not others, of your positions.
> Should I keep forwarding, or dump?
> mike
>
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