[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: [xmca] Consciousness: Ilyenkov Epistemology Quiz



Andy,

Thanks for looking over those statements by Ilyenkov. What passage by Ilyenkov causes you to believe he says that **consciousness** is what is given to humans? He says material reality, social being and social consciousness are what are given. He very carefully never uses a catch-all, misleading term like "consciousness." Well, that's my reading of him.

Here is my problem with the phrase: "what is given to us is consciousness".

The term "consciousness," as it is used in this phrase, conflates, obscures and confuses. It conflates fundamentally different kinds of consciousness and experience (sensation, individual consciousness, social consciousness, social being - not to mention dementia, animal psychic activity, sleep, etc. etc.) It obscures the material basis of these forms of consciousness. And it confuses their relationships with each other.

It might help to ask: what **is** given to humans? (at birth, and thenceforth ...)

Here is the beginning of an answer, helped a bit by Ilyenkov. From birth the human is confronted by reality on multiple levels: material reality (their body, objects, gravity), sensation (hunger, hearing), social being (a system of social and material relations), and social consciousness (ideality, historical culture). Soon, another kind of reality emerges: individual human consciousness. These processes and realities, in their simultaneously material and ideal forms, reappear every moment of a human's life.

The phrase "what is given to us is consciousness" seems to obscure far more than it reveals. What benefits are obtained from making such a one-sided statement that excludes referencing the material foundations and relations underlying this "consciousness"?

I want to emphasize that neither Lenin nor Ilyenkov ever made such a claim. (In my humble reading, anyway). You may be able to get Hegel's solidarity with that phrase, but the classical dialectical materialists argued quite the opposite.

As for a general definition of the term "consciousness", given the scope of phenomena that would have to be included, I might venture something like "the psychic activity of animals and humans."

Sometime when the time is right we might revisit the dialectics of nature discussion (including problems with the Stalinized "diamat" version). There are some significant issues there.

Best,
- Steve





On Sep 25, 2009, at 9:43 PM, Andy Blunden wrote:

OK, Steve I've read through your quiz, and evaluated each claim attributed to Ilyenkov by asking myself: "Is there are a context in which I would agree with this?"

The only one where I have reservations is the "dialectics of nature" one:

28. These laws [dialectics] are understood as the objective laws of development of the material world, of both the natural and socio- historical world, of objective reality in general.


I remain of the view that this claim is unclear and has, over the 120 years since Engels' Dialectics of Nature was published in the 1920s, been the source of a lot of confusion and also reasons to not think. In general I am always wary of claims that have the form: "human society is like this because nature is like this," such as social Darwinism. It basically adds up to "God made man in His own image."

There is an element of truth in the claim, but only by making a drastic reduction to the meaning of "dialectics" which is already verging on meaninglessness anyway.

But I do NOT want to change the subject to dianat!! I want to keep focussed on:

1. How do we define consciousness?
2. What's wrong with my suggestion (21/9/2009) based on the categorical distinction referred to in the early questions in your quiz, which Ilyenkov obviously agrees with:

"Consciousness is what is given to us; matter is what exists outside and independently of consciousness."

Andy
Steve Gabosch wrote:
Ain't no answer sheet! LOL This "quiz" is nothing more than comparing Ilyenkov's actual answers to one's own views. I've simplified this thing. It did need streamlining. There are now 25 Ilyenkov propositions. If my editing is accurate, Ilyenkov's points are preserved in each numbered sentence below. I kept the numbers from the previous version. Martin's very helpful reading of these passages confirms and clarifies my interpretations. Thank you, Martin. I've added headlines (in my words) to clarify Ilyenkov's key themes. As can be seen, I've also used some of Martin's nicely worded summaries for this task (and could have used more - I'm kind of duplicating what he did). Some of these statements by Ilyenkov seem to me to be in conflict with some of the points you have been recently making, Andy. See what you think. This is an 'open book' quiz, by the way - you are welcome to consult any texts ... :-)) from **Leninist Dialectics and the Metaphysics of Positivism**, Chapter One, by EV Ilyenkov, 1979, New Park, material below edited by Steve Gabosch, Sept 2009, downloaded from http://www.marxists.org/archive/ilyenkov/works/positive/positi.htm Ilyenkov is addressing the epistemological question: What is the relationship between consciousness and the world itself?
**********
A.  << No middle path is possible.>>
**********
1. … there is no middle here … [no] middle path …
**********
B. << Consciousness is derived from, produced from, and secondary to matter.>>
**********
3. These concepts [that is, the two general concepts which must be clearly differentiated] are matter and consciousness. 4. [By consciousness we are referring to the] psyche, the ideal, spirit, soul, will, etc. etc. 6. ‘Consciousness’ [in its most general sense] can only be defined by clearly contrasting it with ‘matter’ [in its most general sense.] 7. [Moreover, consciousness can only be contrasted with matter] as something that is secondary, produced and derived. 9. … [Matter] can only be defined through its opposite, and only if one of the opposites is fixed as primary, and the other arises from it.
**********
C. <<For materialists, matter is the basis of epistemology. For idealists, the basis is consciousness.>>
**********
12. Lenin's position … [is as follows]: for materialism … matter – the objective reality given to us in sensation … is the basis of the theory of knowledge (epistemology) … 13. … for idealism of any type, the basis of epistemology is consciousness ...
**********
D. <<Just as social being, (that is, material and economic relations) precedes and exists independently of social consciousness, social consciousness (as does matter) precedes and exists independently of individual consciousness.>> <<Btw, Martin has an interesting objection to Ilyenkov's claim that 'primary' things exist independently of 'secondary' things insofar as humans are concerned.>>
**********
15. [Social consciousness is sometimes described as] … 'collectively-organised' … experience … 16. … the relationship of matter to consciousness is complicated by the fact that social consciousness … from the very beginning precedes individual consciousness as something already given, and existing before, outside, and independent of individual consciousness.
17.  Just as matter does.
**********
E. <<Individual consciousness is formed to a greater degree by social consciousness than it is by the material world. At the same time, as explained by Marx, social consciousness is derived from social being, the system of material and economic relations between people.>>
**********
20. ... social consciousness ... forms ... [the individual’s] consciousness to a much greater degree than the 'material world' [does]. 22. But social consciousness, according to Marx, is not 'primary', but secondary, derived from social being, i.e. the system of material and economic relations between people.
**********
F. Martin summarized the next sentences very nicely as follows: "<We are *given* the world in sensation. But it is in thought that the world is *cognised.*>"
**********
24.  It is … not true that the world is cognised in our sensations.
25. In sensations the external world is only given to us, just as it is given to a dog. 26. ... [The external world] is cognised not in sensations, but in the activity of thought ...
**********
G. <<Lenin explained that dialectical logic is the science of discovering the universal laws of human and natural development. These are the objective laws of development of the material world, which includes the natural world, the socio-historical world, and objective reality in general. These laws are reflected in the historical consciousness of humanity.>>
**********
27. [Dialectical] Logic is defined by Lenin … as the science of those universal laws … to which the development of the entire aggregate knowledge of mankind is objectively subordinated. 28. These laws are understood [by dialectical materialism] as the objective laws of development of the material world, of both the natural and socio-historical world, of objective reality in general. 29. ... [These laws] are reflected in the consciousness of mankind and verified by thousands of years of human practice.
**********
H. <<Martin: "<Thought arises in material activity, even in animals. In humans it takes a more advanced form, in which activity is adjusted to signs.>" I continue: However, if one proceeds from the perspective of individual experience, the sign will be taken as the starting point in the theory of knowledge, which will lead to idealist-leaning errors.">>
**********
35. Thought arises within and during the process of material action as one of its features, one of its aspects, and only later is divided into a special activity (isolated in space and time), finding [the] 'sign' form only in man. 36. A completely different picture arises when, proceeding from individual experience, it is precisely the verbally formed world which is taken as the starting point in the theory of knowledge. 37. It is all the more easy to yield to such an illusion, since in individual experience, words (and signs in general) are in actual fact just as much given to sensual contemplation as are the sun, rivers and mountains, statues and paintings, etc. etc.
38.  Here are the roots of idealism in its 'sign-symbolic' variation.
**********
I. Martin again: "<It is a mistake to try to understand human knowledge in terms of individual consciousness or experience. But it is also a mistake to try to understand knowledge in terms of *social* consciousness.>"
**********
39. If one proceeds from individual experience, making it the point of departure and basis of the theory of knowledge, then idealism is inevitable. 40. But it is also inevitable if one relies on 'collective experience', if the latter is interpreted as something independent of being, as something existing independently, as something primary.
************
<end of 'quiz'>
************
- Steve
On Sep 25, 2009, at 5:28 PM, Andy Blunden wrote:
I can't understand your quiz, Steve. Could you perhaps make us a shorter version with answers at the end of the post?
Andy

Steve Gabosch wrote:
I have something fun, entertaining and educational for everyone on xmca! It just so happens that I took a close look at the Ilyenkov passages following Andy's quotes, did a little tinkering with the text, and came up with something fun: the Ilyenkov Epistemology Quiz, which anyone can take right on their own personal computer! Ilyenkov asks some fundamental questions regarding epistemology: "Where is the clear-cut dividing line between … philosophical idealism and … philosophical materialism? … which of these two points of departure is determining the direction of all your thought, regardless of the subject of your reflection … ? Here … is the question: take your thought, your consciousness of the world, and the world itself ... what is the relationship between them?" This can also be called: The How Much Do You Agree With Ilyenkov on Consciousness? Test ... (Hmm. Somehow, it doesn't seem likely that this will become the rage on Facebook ... does it? ... LOL ...) Taking this "quiz" is very simple. It is comprised of 40 propositional statements by Ilyenkov, which I edited for clarity, about the relationship of consciousness and materiality, from the first chapter of his short book "Leninist Dialectics and the Metaphysics of Positivism" (1979, New Park). To take the quiz, simply list the propositions that you agree with, and those you don't agree with, count them all up, and give Ilyenkov a score. Read critically like this, sentence by sentence, Ilyenkov is surprisingly clear. But one still has to think pretty hard about what he is saying. Hopefully, people will find it worthwhile to do so. Here is a little explanation of the editing I did to create this (this is the fine print part - can be skipped). What I have done is edit 15 of Ilyenkov's paragraphs (starting where Andy's quotes began) into what wound up becoming 40 propositional statements. They read quite coherently. This material makes for a decent introduction to both Ilyenkov and dialectical materialism. I eliminated his references to the Machists to keep things focused on his propositional statements about epistemological issues, and took out various other (for this purpose) secondary passages for the same reason. This makes him a little easier to grasp - he has a tendency to make a lot of side points as he goes. Also, I did some sentence rearranging to help clarify the specific proposition that is being made. There are a couple sentences which could be interpreted in different ways if they are not read very closely, so I included my interpretations below them. And I spelled out one or two important implications that Ilyenkov makes but does not explicitly state. (He makes these points in many other places in his writings, so they are supportable.) Everyone will see what I did - I am trying to be completely transparent. If I have misinterpreted or muddled Ilyenkov in any way, please let me know! I would be very interesting to compare notes on what propositions, formulations, ideas etc. people agree and disagree on. Some may disagree quite sharply on some points, and others may find themselves surprisingly in agreement with Ilyenkov on some issues but didn't know it. Some might find this stimulating ideawise. Others who are bored by philosophical discourse might save this for later if they need something to put them to sleep tonight! LOL This little quiz might even help clarify aspects of this interesting discussion on consciousness. Fun for the whole family! :-)) Andy, after carefully reading your posts about the how "consciousness is what is given to us" and "the idea of matter is derived from consciousness" - as well as other things you have said from time to time - it will be very interesting to see how you "score" Ilyenkov's positions on epistemology. I would actually be quite interested in everyone's thoughts ...
**********************
The Internet Ilyenkov Epistemology Quiz also known as The How Much Do You Agree With Ilyenkov on Consciousness? Test from **Leninist Dialectics and the Metaphysics of Positivism** by EV Ilyenkov, edited by Steve Gabosch, Sept 2009
downloaded from http://www.marxists.org/archive/ilyenkov/works/positive/positi.htm
***********************
a. Where is the clear-cut dividing line between … philosophical idealism and … philosophical materialism? … b. … which of these two points of departure is determining the direction of all your thought, regardless of the subject of your reflection … ? c. Here … is the question: take your thought, your consciousness of the world, and the world itself ... what is the relationship between them?
1. … there is no middle here … [no] middle path …
2. In philosophy the 'party of the golden mean' is the 'party of the brainless', [that is, those that attempt the middle path are destined to fail if they] ... try to unite materialism with idealism in an eclectic way, by means of smoothing out the basic contradictions, and by means of muddling the most general ... and clear concepts. 3. These concepts [the two general concepts which must be clearly differentiated] are matter and consciousness. 4. [By consciousness we are referring to the] psyche, the ideal, spirit, soul, will, etc. etc. 5. 'Consciousness' – let us take this term as Lenin did – is the most general concept which can only be defined by clearly contrasting it with the most general concept of 'matter', as something secondary, produced and derived. 6. [[sg interpretation: ‘Consciousness’ [in its most general sense] can only be defined by clearly contrasting it with ‘matter’ [in its most general sense.]]] 7. [[sg interpretation: …moreover … [consciousness can only be contrasted with matter] as something that is secondary, produced and derived.]] 8. Dialectics consists in not being able to define matter as such … 9. … it [matter] can only be defined through its opposite, and only if one of the opposites is fixed as primary, and the other arises from it. 10. [[sg interpretation: Dialectics can only define things through their opposites, and furthermore can only do so if one of these opposites is fixed as primary and the other as arising from it.]] 11. [[sg interpretation of an implication made above: In dialectical materialism, the material is primary; and consciousness, its opposite, arises from it.]] 12. Lenin's position … [is as follows]: for materialism … matter – the objective reality given to us in sensation … is the basis of the theory of knowledge (epistemology) … 13. … for idealism of any type, the basis of epistemology is consciousness ... 14. [Consciousness for the idealist can take a multitude of forms and can appear] under one or another of its pseudonyms (be it the 'psychical', 'conscious' or 'unconscious', be it the 'system of forms of collectively-organised experience' or 'objective spirit', the individual or collective psyche, individual or social consciousness).] 15. [Social consciousness is sometimes described as] … 'collectively-organised' … experience … 16. … the relationship of matter to consciousness is complicated by the fact that social consciousness … from the very beginning precedes individual consciousness as something already given, and existing before, outside, and independent of individual consciousness.
17.  Just as matter does.
18. [[sg interpretation: Just as social consciousness does, matter, from the very beginning, precedes individual consciousness as something already given.]]
19.  [There is] …  even more [to it] than that.
20. This social consciousness – forms ... [the individual’s] consciousness to a much greater degree than [does] the 'material world'. 21. [Social consciousness] of course, in its individualised form, [takes] … the form of the consciousness of one's closest teachers, and after that, of the entire circle of people who appear in the field of vision of a person … 22. But social consciousness, according to Marx, is not 'primary', but secondary, derived from social being, i.e. the system of material and economic relations between people. 23. [[sg interpretation: According to Marx, social consciousness, which is secondary, is derived from social being, which is the system of material and economic relations between people.]]
24.  It is … not true that the world is cognised in our sensations.
25. In sensations the external world is only given to us, just as it is given to a dog. 26. ... [The external world] is cognised not in sensations, but in the activity of thought ... 27. [Dialectical] Logic is defined by Lenin … as the science of those universal laws … to which the development of the entire aggregate knowledge of mankind is objectively subordinated. 28. These laws are understood [by dialectical materialism] as the objective laws of development of the material world, of both the natural and socio-historical world, of objective reality in general. 29. ... [These laws] are reflected in the consciousness of mankind and verified by thousands of years of human practice.
d.  What is … 'thought'?
30. … [A materialist] line of thought [about what thought is] proceeds from Spinoza. He understands thinking to be an inherent capability, characteristic not of all bodies, but only of thinking material bodies. 31. With the help of this capability, a body can construct its activities in the spatially determined world, in conformity with the 'form and disposition' of all other bodies external to it, both 'thinking' and 'non-thinking'. 32. Spinoza therefore includes thinking among the categories of the attributes of substance, such as extension. 33. In this form ... [thinking] is, according to Spinoza, characteristic also of animals. 34. For him [Spinoza] even an animal possesses a soul, and this view distinguishes Spinoza from Descartes, who considered that an animal is simply an 'automaton', a very complex 'machine'. 35. Thought arises within and during the process of material action as one of its features, one of its aspects, and only later is divided into a special activity (isolated in space and time), finding [the] 'sign' form only in man. 36. A completely different picture arises when, proceeding from individual experience, it is precisely the verbally formed world which is taken as the starting point in the theory of knowledge. 37. It is all the more easy to yield to such an illusion, since in individual experience, words (and signs in general) are in actual fact just as much given to sensual contemplation as are the sun, rivers and mountains, statues and paintings, etc. etc. 38. Here are the roots of idealism in its 'sign-symbolic' variation. 39. If one proceeds from individual experience, making it the point of departure and basis of the theory of knowledge, then idealism is inevitable. 40. But it is also inevitable if one relies on 'collective experience', if the latter is interpreted as something independent of being, as something existing independently, as something primary.
<Ilyenkov moves on to other questions at this point in the text.>
<End of quiz.>
So how did you score Ilyenkov?
Cheers,
- Steve_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy Blunden http://www.erythrospress.com/
Classics in Activity Theory: Hegel, Leontyev, Meshcheryakov, Ilyenkov $20 ea

_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy Blunden http://www.erythrospress.com/
Classics in Activity Theory: Hegel, Leontyev, Meshcheryakov, Ilyenkov $20 ea

_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca

_______________________________________________
xmca mailing list
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca