Re: [xmca] subjectivity

From: Andy Blunden (ablunden@mira.net)
Date: Sun Oct 30 2005 - 17:06:53 PST


   Mike, the meaning of "subjectivity" is highly contested. It's
   genealogy is indeed very interesting, but can be confusing.
   [1]http://home.mira.net/~andy/works/subject.htm is a first draft
   introduction to the book I am writing on "The= Subject".
   It should be remembered that not only Soviet psychology, but also structuralism and post-structuralism - archetypal postmodern strands
   of= theory, dominant in the capitalist world today, discount the role
   of the= individual in the making of history. This particular failure
   is far from= being the exclusive property of CHAT. Far from it. In
   fact, I think= the CHAT tradition is one of the few currents with the
   theoretical= resources to overcome what is widely called "the death of
   the= subject".
   Andy
   At 04:50 PM 30/10/2005 -0800, you wrote:

     Among my uncertainties as we start= to dig more deeply into Anna's
     article
     is whether we are using key terms in the same way. An old worry
     with
     respect to the word, object, and one that occurred to me in seeking
     to
     interpret the article. But subjectivity is also a term, the meaning
     of= which
     varies with the discourse it is a part of. I thought it might be
     useful= to
     identify
     the range of meanings we bring to the discussion. As a start, here
     is= the
     wikipedia
     entry.
     [2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_subjectivity<= br>
     The OED gives this defintion:
     *. a.* Consciousness of one's perceived states. *1821*
     COLERIDGE<[3]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleri
     dg= e>in
     *Blackw. Mag.* X. 249 In the object, we infer our own existence and
     subjectivity. *1874*
     SAYCE<[4]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s.html#sayce= >
     *Compar. Philol.* vii. 287 The idea of life, and therefore of subjectivity,
     is put out of sight. *1885* J.
     MARTINEAU<[5]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-m2.html#j-mart
     in= eau>
     *Types Eth. Th.* I. I. xi. §8. 211 They forbid us to appropriate
     to our= own
     subjectivity the intelligent acts of which we are conscious.
     *b.* A conscious being.
     *1830* COLERIDGE
     <[6]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleridg= e>in
     *Lit. Rem.* (1838) III. 1 The Identity. The absolute subjectivity,
     whose
     only attribute is the Good. *1840* W. H.
     MILL<[7]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-m3.html#w-h-mill= >
     *Applic. Panth. Princ.* I. 103 Individuals stand as 'the
     subjectivities= that
     realize the substantial' of the Idea.
     *2. a.* The quality or condition of viewing things exclusively
     through= the
     medium of one's own mind or individuality; the condition of being dominated
     by or absorbed in one's personal feelings, thoughts, concerns,
     etc.;= hence,
     individuality, personality.
     [*1812* SOUTHEY
     <[8]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s4.html#southey<= /a>>
     *
     Omniana* I. 220 The nature of Bulls, which will be found always to contain
     in them a confusion of (what the Schoolmen would have called) Objectivety
     and Subjectivety, in plain English, the impression of a thing as
     it= exists
     in itself and extrinsically, with the idea which the mind abstracts
     from= the
     impression.] *1827*
     HARE<[9]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h.html#hare&= gt;
     *Guesses* (1859) 97 Often..the plural *we* is..a help to those who cannot
     get quit of their subjectivity, or write about objects objectively.
     *1844*= W.
     G. WARD
     <[10]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-w.html#w-g-ward<= /a>>
     *Ideal
     Chr. Ch.* (ed. 2) 79 The vast increase of what is called
     subjectivity;= the
     very much greater portion of man's life and interest which is
     occupied= in
     observation of his own thoughts, feelings, and actions. *1871* R.
     H.
     HUTTON<[11]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h4.html#r-h-hutt
     = on>
     *Ess.* I. 248 'Subjectivity', as it is called, clouds the eyes; we
     want= to
     know how far our own individual deficiencies, and sins, and
     impulses,= colour
     our vision. *1880* *Scribner's Mag.* XX. 117 [Poe's] studies of character
     were not made from observation, but from acquaintance with himself;
     and= this
     subjectivity, or egoism, crippled his invention. *1886*
     PATER<[12]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-p.html#pater= >
     *Ess. fr. Guardian* I. 11 This pioneer of an everybody's literature
     had= his
     subjectivities.
     *b.* That quality of literary or graphic art which depends on the expression
     of the personality or individuality of the artist; the
     individuality of= an
     artist as expressed in his work.
     *1830* COLERIDGE
     <[13]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleridg= e>
     *Table T.* 12 May, A subjectivity of the poet, as of Milton, who
     is= himself
     before himself in everything he writes. *1882-3* *Schaff's Encycl. Relig.
     Knowl.* II. 953/2 Characteristics of Hebrew..poetry: 1.
     Subjectivity.= The
     Hebrew poet deals only with what concerns him personally. *1889* E.
     ARNOLD<[14]http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-a2.html#e-arnold
     = >
     *Seas & Lands* iv. (1895) 49 'Fidelis' (Agnes Maude Machar), who is
     frequently called the first of Dominion poetesses, excels in a
     graceful
     subjectivity.
     I am CERTAIN that there are very important discussions of uses of
     this= term
     more appropriate to the present discussion. I would find it helpful
     to= be
     pointed to the relevant sources.
     Mary-- How do we collectively get our eyes coordinated on "Becoming
     post-human"? That seems important
     mike
     _______________________________________________
     xmca mailing list
     xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
     [15]http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
   Andy Blunden, on behalf of the= Victorian Peace Network, Phone (+61)
   03-9380 9435
   Alexander Surmava's Tour - September/October 2006
   [16]http://ethicalpolitics.org[17]/alexander-surmava/index.htm

References

   1. 3D"http://home.mira.net/~andy/works/subject.htm"
   2. 3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_subjectivity" 3. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleridge" 4. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s.html#sayce" 5. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-m2.html#j-martineau" 6. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleridge" 7. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-m3.html#w-h-mill" 8. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s4.html#southey" 9. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h.html#hare" 10. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-w.html#w-g-ward" 11. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h4.html#r-h-hutton" 12. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-p.html#pater" 13. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-c3.html#coleridge" 14. 3D"http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-a2.html#e-arnol 15. 3D"http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca" 16. 3D"http://ethicalpolitics.org/alexander-surmava/index.htm" 17. 3D"http://ethicalpolitics.org/alexander-surmava/index.htm"_______________________________________________
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