Re: [xmca] Jones on Learning under capitalism

[Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net>]

Larry, though there is a basis for the conception of "personality types" 
and they have some role to play in the description of the social changes 
taking place, I don't think they are the main analytical tool. I can see 
two ways to go here. (1) the approach of Regulation Theory, which points 
out that while capitalism is a globally hegemonic mode of production, 
every country and period solves a number of problems in different ways 
in respect to each of a number of functional aspects of social life, 
e.g., the wages system, the social welfare system, the state/political 
system, the market system, the education system, and so on. In general, 
these are not indifferent in their ramifications and need to be 
theorised separately, and (2) the theorisation by means of Activity 
Theory of the finite range of different relations. In my opinion these 
relations can be grouped into purchase-and-sale, command-and-obey and 
critical cooperation (or collaboration properly so-called). No 
capitalist firm can operate, for example, without using the ancient 
system of hierarchical direction. And nor could capitalism operate for a 
day without the production of healthy, sane workers by means of the 
loving care of collaborative working classs families. I think Activity 
Theory should pay attention to the systematic investigation of these 
different modes of collaboration. Altogether we need a more 
differentiated approach.

Andy

Larry Purss wrote:
> Andy, if Zygmunt's analysis is accurate, then gathering pessimism is a
> reasonable response to our current arrangements where more and
> more relationships are provisional as an adaptation to capitalist rule. How
> do we move beyond these liquid arrangements to form personality "types"
> which are expressive of yearnings for ONGOING connection and shared
> purpose.  The answer cannot be merely epistemological or merely
> practical/functional but MUST engage with alternative social ETHICS which
> constitute new personality "types".

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