[Xmca-l] Re: structure and agency
mike cole
mcole@ucsd.edu
Tue Jun 30 21:16:57 PDT 2020
Andy -- You write that " The structure is *built around* *contradictions" *
Would it be useful to say, also, that "structures *contain* the *contradictions
*minist in social life?
I am asking because i am thinking of institutions as sociocultural
structures that coordinate constituent
activities sufficiently to enable human biocuturalsocial re-production..
mike
and g'night!
On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 9:06 PM Andy Blunden <andyb@marxists.org> wrote:
> At first glance Hegel and Marx appear to have erected giant structures,
> which explicate how a social formation reproduces itself. I.e., they look
> like structuralists. But look again. At the heart of Hegel's *Logic *and
> Marx's *Capital *is a contradiction. The structure is built around
> *contradictions*. Under the impact of critique, at a certain point, the
> contradiction(s) unfolds as social transformation.
>
> Yrjo Engestrom has endeavoured to incorporate this idea in his system with
> its 4-levels of contradiction, and Ilyenkov explains in detail how Marx and
> Hegel did it in his 1960 monograph "The Abstract and Concrete in Marx's
> *Capital*."
>
> andy
> ------------------------------
> *Andy Blunden*
> Hegel for Social Movements
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://brill.com/view/title/54574__;!!Mih3wA!VrJ6ogmE0QXMa3fMTmRp6YRhgzkXCIbZ0jSEci2-B6Gvtituftx_3TXEEt7HTGjjKVnsjw$>
> Home Page
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ethicalpolitics.org/ablunden/index.htm__;!!Mih3wA!VrJ6ogmE0QXMa3fMTmRp6YRhgzkXCIbZ0jSEci2-B6Gvtituftx_3TXEEt7HTGhl_8RK9w$>
> On 1/07/2020 1:42 pm, mike cole wrote:
>
> David,Andy. So what has transformational agency to do with the
> distinctions you are making?
> Mike
>
> On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 7:04 PM Andy Blunden <andyb@marxists.org> wrote:
>
>> I beg to differ with you David. "Structuralism" dates from the beginning
>> of the 20th century and poststructuralism from the 1970s roughly. That
>> there were structuralist tendencies in Marx's writing is undeniable, and
>> likewise with Hegel and with Vygotsky. But as I see it, "Structuralism" and
>> "Poststructuralism" are specific historically bounded projects. I agree
>> that both of these projects have had an impact or influence on the
>> development of Critical Theory and CHAT, but neither are "structuralist."
>>
>> -
>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ethicalpolitics.org/ablunden/pdfs/concrete-historicism.pdf__;!!Mih3wA!V-mYNb3iJ4MF7rB0hejs8XZr-x47zmuly5qtpqPQPH_4pacZ-MyCn3K8BNOiCivSrfsWLw$
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ethicalpolitics.org/ablunden/pdfs/concrete-historicism.pdf__;!!Mih3wA!VhKMxK62RuHFPtSiafVaIhcBWu6Corlc8Jwv8StB7faR8dToPmZRX0GyVindCZxvdPoTlw$>
>>
>> Andy
>> ------------------------------
>> *Andy Blunden*
>> Hegel for Social Movements
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://brill.com/view/title/54574__;!!Mih3wA!VhKMxK62RuHFPtSiafVaIhcBWu6Corlc8Jwv8StB7faR8dToPmZRX0GyVindCZwfv_bGZg$>
>> Home Page
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.ethicalpolitics.org/ablunden/index.htm__;!!Mih3wA!VhKMxK62RuHFPtSiafVaIhcBWu6Corlc8Jwv8StB7faR8dToPmZRX0GyVindCZwpXrkYXg$>
>> On 1/07/2020 10:35 am, David H Kirshner wrote:
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>> Marx and Vygotsky both were structural theorists. My guess/impression is
>> that as critical theory and sociocultural theory evolved both have been
>> influenced by poststructural thought, but neither has made a true
>> poststructural turn; nor have scholars in either arena really grappled with
>> the implications of such a turn.
>>
>> David
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu> *On Behalf Of *mike cole
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2020 6:59 PM
>> *To:* eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject:* [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> That was a very clarifying note, David, thanks. So is cultural marxism
>> one way to deal with mutability or stability of structure?
>>
>> Most of the marxist social science I am reading these days focuses on
>> transformational agency and take their roots from Vygotsky
>>
>> and (various )predecessors, so this is post-structuralist Marxism?
>>
>>
>>
>> mike
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 6:19 AM David H Kirshner <dkirsh@lsu.edu> wrote:
>>
>> S’ma et al.,
>>
>> The issue of victimhood and “victim mentality” is roiled by crosscurrents
>> of modernist and postmodernist, structuralist and poststructuralist
>> thought. Victim mentality is always perspectival—I have been wronged. In a
>> modernist frame, the perspective of victim may be able to be aligned with
>> an overarching (i.e., structuralist) account that authorizes its
>> significance. Critical theory, stemming from Marxist theory, is such a
>> structuralist account—or perhaps, more accurately, a structuralist project
>> as it is not clear that critical theorists have arrived at consensus about
>> the theory. Postmodernism and poststructuralism abandon the structuralist
>> mandate, accepting that there is no bedrock structural perspective that can
>> encompass the variety of local perspectives. So my sense of my victimhood
>> is simply my perspective, and the project of establishing its viability is
>> purely a political one. Any of us can experience ourselves as victims, and
>> assert a political claim to that effect. Interestingly, it is the political
>> Right that embodies this poststructuralist critique of victimhood, and the
>> political Left that orients itself in structuralism.
>>
>> David
>>
>> *From:* xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *On Behalf Of *Simangele Mayisela
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 30, 2020 5:25 AM
>> *To:* eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject:* [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Annalisa and colleagues
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you for processing my earlier articulation in such an impeccable
>> manner. I see how your method of using definitions as a foundation for
>> conversations, specially sensitive conversations in a multicultural forum
>> such as this one. You have beautifully demonstrated that in your response
>> below and in some of your previous enlightening contributions.
>>
>>
>>
>> Your reference to the George Orwell’s 1984 is quite fitting in this
>> situation; when a victim expresses that they are victimised, they are then
>> “gaslighted”, as there is something seriously wrong with their mentality –
>> the victim mentality. It is short of saying “do not think” that you are
>> victimised even if there is “victimisation”, or you “were” victimised.
>> Perhaps we can accept better with “survivors” but the conditions and the
>> context under which” survivors” continue to survive.
>>
>>
>>
>> Ok then, then the survivors develop a concept, “Critical Theory” to
>> name, and shine light on the hidden aspects of “survivorhood”, where the
>> conditions for thinking about or “reflecting” surviving are determined and
>> controlled, even those who have power – “scientific or unscientific”.
>>
>>
>>
>> There is undeniable history of efforts and activities of survivors of
>> different forms oppressions and genocides, where generations of survivors
>> have shown resilience and the ability to move on, but only to be met with
>> new and systematic ways of psychological and economic oppression. Leaving
>> them with no option but to survive by different means at the disposal,
>> including becoming religious with the home for future redemption. Of more
>> interest to me are those who keep trying using “enlightened” ways by
>> intellectually explaining to themselves as a collective and to the
>> oppressor with the hope to bring about change for their situation – the
>> “doing something about their situation.” Using the analogy of a monopoly
>> game Tameka Jones Young
>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158129729940856&id=522190855__;!!Mih3wA!V-mYNb3iJ4MF7rB0hejs8XZr-x47zmuly5qtpqPQPH_4pacZ-MyCn3K8BNOiCivCeZ930g$
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2F*2Fnam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com*2F*3Furl*3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2F*2Fm.facebook.com*2Fstory.php*3Fstory_fbid*3D10158129729940856*26id*3D522190855__*3B!!Mih3wA!VX_uq7D0v43DAvM9nEC46ZStRpXjResRedVQUr9zhmuKYSRyZ34CmtUCYxxDViAr2G5ncg*24*26data*3D02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C3980c805ddde48ffcda308d81ce02bb5*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291096420272281*26sdata*3DwTDn9GfEmrNWmDs7ZKaYDsB6FZCeMUVhqsyWF9XzaeE*3D*26reserved*3D0__*3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!Mih3wA!XgF09Z_7Jf5M7eawhdePrcY6Ga6UVHH-Wen9Vq7UBXWfzeFgYdOg20ED5HIi0LWe6MGJgg*24&data=02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C793f465e2c064597a6ec08d81d52307d*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291586126470977&sdata=Uuw6Xaz8ott*2FqhOnnPfx1NVKD7viv29J7hBq6yDOtQU*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUqKioqKioqKioqKioqKiolJSoqKioqKioqJSUqJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!Mih3wA!WBb97M0rnCTuW6rx_rhYvkAPQLCK1TlHV1j2_71whs8hUwhp1NiF5m7opU1Tv5D4stnMCQ$>
>> (please watch if you a minute to spare) , has a way that highlights why
>> “victim mentality” is not an appropriate, or rather demeaning of those who
>> are working hard to be free, let alone to be at par with the oppressors’
>> “survivors” if I may say so. The video is in the context of the gruesome
>> protests after the murder of George Floyd, perhaps what is important for
>> this conversation is the content, the meaning of her articulations, though
>> her expressions are accompanied by very strong emotions, I found her
>> monopoly analogy worth my reflection.
>>
>>
>>
>> I must say I owe it to myself to try draw some links between Cultural
>> Historical Activity Theory, Critical Race Theory and Social Justice theory,
>> I admire scholars, some who maybe in this thread who have used these
>> theoretical lenses in their work in trying to understand mental development
>> it the global context. I think Cultural Historical Activity Theory maybe
>> one of the appropriate tools to explain that which concerns Lindsay; how
>> Critical theory is finding its way of infiltrating critical spaces in
>> communities, including academia, which he sees as nothing but “Grievance
>> Studies” and threatening scientific thinking.
>>
>>
>>
>> It has been good partaking in these conversations. I think reflections
>> can continue to happen in private at a personal level and in smaller
>> groups. What is important is; yes need to reflect on our thinking and our
>> learning. I myself have learned a lot from this thread, in conscious and
>> unconscious ways I transform as I read your contributions, to the point I
>> at times pleasantly surprise myself quoting what was said in this thread.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> S’ma
>>
>> *From:* xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *On Behalf Of *Annalisa Aguilar
>> *Sent:* Friday, 26 June 2020 22:37
>> *To:* eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject:* [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello S'ma and venerable others,
>>
>>
>>
>> I was intrigued by this notion of Critical Theory being posed as a
>> "grievance science," as if taking on a maudlin cape of "victim mentality"
>> around the shoulders, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>> It seems something of a cop-out to reduce it to that. It is almost as
>> grievous as Holocaust deniers.
>>
>>
>>
>> Still, to consider it analytically, Critical Theory by design is intended
>> to uncover the ideologies by which certain social sciences have been taught
>> and promulgated. It's de-constructive, right? This stance might be seen as
>> nihilistic, but there has been some valuable work from stripping off the
>> veneer of power structures in order to analyze its underlying logic, which
>> in many cases has been arbitrary and reveals that privilege is usually not
>> earned through merit.
>>
>>
>>
>> When considering relations of power, it's easy (albeit insensitive) for
>> someone of privilege to name the powerless as "victims," but when this is
>> done, it is only in an objection when victims call themselves victims, as
>> if they have no right to do so.
>>
>>
>>
>> So who has the right to use this word "victim"?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel there is a strange aura about the word that is likened to the word
>> "masochistic" and it's *that baggage* I am wrangling with in my post here.
>>
>>
>>
>> Must there be prejudice cast upon those who are actual and legitimate
>> victims. There seems intertwined in the meaning of the word something
>> unquantifiable but that does result in "blaming the victim" dynamics, and
>> even more insidious, gaslighting, and these have results of its own harmful
>> effects. (Like when we say "to add insult to injury").
>>
>>
>>
>> Can no one use the word "victim" anymore?
>>
>>
>>
>> Frequently people use the word "survivor," which does have connotations
>> of resilience and fortitude against odds (of being victimized). But when we
>> consider the word "survivor" when used as the name of a reality game show
>> (in the early naughts). where people choose to put themselves in difficult
>> circumstances on deserted islands to overcome these circumstances by their
>> wits, to then be "voted off the island" by the other "survivors." Talk
>> about social Darwinism!
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel there is still something the word "survivor" leaves unspoken about
>> the representation of a person who has been a target of prejudice, crime,
>> neglect, or abuse, whether intentionally or not.
>>
>>
>>
>> Curious, I looked up the definitions of "victim" and found these:
>>
>> 1. a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or
>> agency: a victim of an automobile accident.
>> 2. a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions
>> or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency: a
>> victim of misplaced confidence; the victim of a swindler; a victim of an
>> optical illusion.
>> 3. a person or animal sacrificed or regarded as sacrificed: war
>> victims.
>> 4. a living creature sacrificed in religious rites.
>>
>> When I look up synonyms for "victim" I find this:
>>
>> casualty, fatality, martyr, sufferer, butt, clown, dupe, fool, gambit,
>> gopher, gudgeon, gull, hireling, immolation, innocent, mark, patsy, pawn,
>> pigeon, prey, pushover, quarry, sacrifice, scapegoat, stooge, sucker,
>> underdog, wretch, babe in woods, easy make, easy mark, hunted, injured
>> party, sitting duck, sitting target, soft touch.
>>
>>
>>
>> I did the same for the term survivor:
>>
>> 1. a person or thing that survives.
>> 2. Law. the one of two or more designated persons, as joint tenants
>> or others having a joint interest, who outlives the other or others.
>> 3. a person who continues to function or prosper in spite of
>> opposition, hardship, or setbacks.
>>
>> Synoymns:
>>
>> balance, debris, leftovers, legacy, oddments, remainder, remnant,
>> remnants, residue, rest, scraps, surplus, trash, odds and ends, orts
>>
>> The third definition seems the lest frequent usage, or is it the most
>> recent accepted meaning?
>>
>>
>>
>> It is odd to consider victims as designated parties of sacrifice; and
>> survivors to be considered mere leftovers.
>>
>>
>>
>> Is it that the life energy of victims are like easily accessible
>> batteries to be utilized for the benefit of those not sacrificed? Isn't
>> that what criminals do? To appropriate the property or energy of others for
>> their own unearned benefit and advancement?
>>
>>
>>
>> Is that fitness or crime?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> t the same time to be a survivor seems to be something left less whole.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> What then would one call an individual or group who has been overpowered
>> against their self-agency by another individual or group? Is there a word
>> without these undertowing currents of meaning?
>>
>>
>>
>> We can say oppressed, but no one likes to say "I have been oppressed." or
>> "I am oppressed," just as no one likes to say "I have been victimized," "I
>> am a victim," or "My society is victimized by your society," or "My
>> ancestors were enslaved by yours."
>>
>>
>>
>> And yet, these would be factual pronouncements, were legitimate
>> individuals (victims) of those actual experiences to describe themselves in
>> this fashion.
>>
>>
>>
>> Would it be no different than an individual saying, "I have been an
>> oppressor." or "I oppress." No one likes to say "I victimize others," "I am
>> a perpetrator," or "My society victimizes your society," or "My ancestors
>> enslaved yours."
>>
>>
>>
>> The problem in making these sorts of statements is that while factual and
>> descriptive, they can actually be twisted into being prescriptive. As if to
>> say, "I did this and I can do it again because that's who I am." or "This
>> happened to me and it can happen again because that's who I am."
>>
>>
>>
>> While there are people such as this Lindsay (I did not watch the video),
>> who can throw about "victimization" as if it were a shameful badge to wear,
>> I don't see anyone of that camp using the same disdain to describe those
>> who performed grave injustices against others, to perhaps utter a phrase
>> like "perpetrator of injustices", that might invoke that same shadow of
>> shame. To my estimation, whatever the words, it would be right and just
>> they should provide that shadow of shame, given the injustices that
>> Critical Theory is attempting to understand, without further empowering
>> perpetrators and without further disempowering victims.
>>
>>
>>
>> Is the reason for this blindspot or lapse because a crime performed in
>> past cannot be adjusted to correct for the crime, that it somehow means
>> justice cannot be performed? In a sort of "shrugged shoulders - c'est la
>> vie" kind of attitude? That no one believes exhuming the "dead bodies" from
>> "unmarked graves" worth the unpleasantness of the task?
>>
>>
>>
>> Why is it easy to commit the crime, but so hard to bend the arc of
>> justice to meet the crime?
>>
>>
>>
>> In the days of the American Wild West, justice was doled out too quickly,
>> but now it seems it is too slowly.
>>
>>
>>
>> This is why I wonder how to consider science when we are talking about
>> power structures. What is scientific about justice/injustice? Power seems
>> unscientific. It is arbitrary. Or is it?
>>
>>
>>
>> Were we to describe the cause and effect of such power structures and
>> their internal reasoning, it would start to sound like Nazi propaganda, or
>> the promotion of eugenics.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm reminded of a Bill Moyers interview I saw many years ago, the name of
>> the guest I don't remember. I only recall he was a politico for the George
>> W Bush campaign, and the fellow claimed his favorite book was Orwell's
>> 1984, as if to say that it was an instruction booklet on how to create the
>> kind of society he wanted. The blatant honesty was breathtaking.
>>
>>
>>
>> Reading S'ma's post made me aware of how in the case of (all forms of)
>> oppression it's rare for the oppressor to say, "I have some self-reflection
>> to do to answer for the deeds of my ancestors, to make up for the
>> injustices suffered by your ancestors," or "My sense of privilege allowed
>> me to oppress you, and I don't feel right about that, so I will stop that
>> now. I see the errors of my ways."
>>
>>
>>
>> It feels there is no obligation for reconciliation because such folk
>> percieve the cement of history has been poured and dried. "It's in the
>> past, let's move on."
>>
>>
>>
>> There is something absurd about the tacit agreement to avoid self-naming,
>> and I'm trying to sort out how it might be not to be so absurd sounding.
>>
>> Has anyone a hand up to provide me on this reflection?
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm not sure I'm articulating this very well, but that is my best
>> attempt. Forgive any flaws in my reasoning, and of course the typos there
>> above.
>>
>>
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> Annalisa
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> on behalf of Simangele Mayisela <simangele.mayisela@wits.ac.za>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, June 25, 2020 6:04 AM
>> *To:* eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject:* [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> * [EXTERNAL]*
>>
>> Hi Andy and Alfredo
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you for responding to my communication, and for viewing the video
>> I referred to in my previous email. Let me say that the connection between
>> the current conversation about “scientific” knowledge (in this case in
>> relation to “levels” of mental development and “ideology”) and James
>> Lindsay’s argument on Critical Theory having no scientific basis (in the
>> video) is this:
>>
>>
>>
>> Lindsay and his colleagues believe that Critical Theory, I suppose with
>> its shoots like Critical Race Theory, Critical Race Feminist theory,
>> Identity Theories, etc. do not have a scientific base but are a movement
>> which they call “Grievance studies”, that perpetuates “self-pity” and
>> “victim mentality”. They further went on to produce fake scientific study
>> “dog rape culture and feminism” known as “hoax science” as evidence of how
>> unscientific “grievance studies” are; most of which are of course are
>> situated in the social sciences. This further exposed the paucity in the
>> system of peer reviews in scientific journals, which some believe are also
>> tainted by ideological predispositions – my fear is that this introduces
>> mistrust in the notion of review processes of scientific journals - which
>> we have to be concerned about.
>>
>>
>>
>> The reason I brought up Lindsay’s argument to the picture is: while I am
>> not certain if I wholly agree with Lindsay’s argument on Critical Theories,
>> I am however fascinated by the fact that they confirm the influence of
>> ideological position an individual or rather a “scientist” holds, ( an
>> idea alluded to by some, earlier in this thread). I believe, as much as we
>> aspire to be objective in our pursuit of scientific enquiry, the narratives
>> associated with our scientific knowledge(s) are likely to be tainted with
>> ideologically biases or historicity. The likes of Lindsay and Weinstein
>> bring to our attention the dangers of the exclusion of the masses in the
>> name of “scientific evidence” – who in this day of rapid technological
>> connection the collective is gradually become global rather than in
>> specific localities. Even those that deemed to have “primitive mental
>> functioning” or “unsophisticated” mental functioning, their unexpected
>> ability to infiltrate academia and other spaces with Critical Theory like
>> a “Trojan Horse”, that’s according to Bret Weinstein (
>> po.nl/2020/06/20/must-watch-joe-rogan-with-bret-weinstein-critical-theory-is-basically-a-trojan-horse/
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__http*3A*2F*2Fpo.nl*2F2020*2F06*2F20*2Fmust-watch-joe-rogan-with-bret-weinstein-critical-theory-is-basically-a-trojan-horse*2F__*3B!!Mih3wA!QCD7ed0aCRAAlp7GdBrl0meYtbgs9bxM8e7Zg-RtwtTHcq2MHVUupotmjSed87zhqcRqSA*24&data=02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C793f465e2c064597a6ec08d81d52307d*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291586126480974&sdata=OgkwRQ102d*2BW*2FUntR5jqwUD44OozPBxwZ495zg7NrtI*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!Mih3wA!WBb97M0rnCTuW6rx_rhYvkAPQLCK1TlHV1j2_71whs8hUwhp1NiF5m7opU1Tv5As5j44Bw$>
>> ) seems to surprise us. I wonder though, if Critical Theorists' Trojan
>> Horse is scientific evidence of “self-pity”, “victim mentality”,
>> unsophisticated mental functioning, … (we can add other classifying
>> adjectives to describe all those who have not developed “scientific
>> tools”).
>>
>>
>>
>> My reference to Lindsay and Marxism, is related to some of the sources
>> that I have encountered earlier, clearly not on this YouTube video I
>> referred you to, but it is within this line of debates about “scientific”
>> knowledge”.
>>
>>
>>
>> It seems to me that the association of Paulo Freire’s “Education for
>> the Oppressed” to "victim mentality" is kind of twisted and perhaps mistook
>> for “Education for the Depressed”, which is unfortunate, especially if we
>> take into consideration all the publications by Freire, like Education for
>> Liberation. Nevertheless, the Trojan Horse analogy for the Critical
>> Education is evidence of the collectively formulated knowledge that is
>> generously shared, rendering the commodified "scientific" knowledge
>> accessible to the privileged few, generously shared to all who needs to
>> advance the survival of humanity.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Simangele
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> simangele.mayisela@wits.ac.za
>>
>> *From:* xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *On Behalf Of *Andy Blunden
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, 24 June 2020 03:37
>> *To:* xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu
>> *Subject:* [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Casting collective efforts at self-determination as "victim mentality" or
>> "self pity" has long been a line of right-wing criticism of progressive
>> movements. Of all people, Paulo Freire is the last to be guilty of such a
>> sin though; his pedagogy is aimed specifically, like Myles Horton's, at
>> stimulating and equipping people from being victims to self-determination.
>> There is such a thing as a politics of pity though; it is called
>> philanthropy and charity.
>>
>> Andy
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> *Andy Blunden*
>> Hegel for Social Movements
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2F*2Fnam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com*2F*3Furl*3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2Fbrill.com*2Fview*2Ftitle*2F54574__*3B!!Mih3wA!WCK45j6Y4AscTY1OVN1quxD0_VDKtR1Y9u5SYoUgfTIzhGpvyRCeU6XnFqBCRESHVrtCaw*24*26data*3D02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C3980c805ddde48ffcda308d81ce02bb5*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291096420282275*26sdata*3DoX74*2BlINhl3MWMlwht3oCw5PTrjXyxOQX17*2BfVvxpf8*3D*26reserved*3D0__*3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!Mih3wA!XgF09Z_7Jf5M7eawhdePrcY6Ga6UVHH-Wen9Vq7UBXWfzeFgYdOg20ED5HIi0LW-P86LBA*24&data=02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C793f465e2c064597a6ec08d81d52307d*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291586126480974&sdata=IkuUm91U9GMwiGxaDJXhs8w5QnwrCsBLNDtBPb0z6pA*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUqKioqKioqKioqKiolJSoqKioqKioqJSUqKiolJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!Mih3wA!WBb97M0rnCTuW6rx_rhYvkAPQLCK1TlHV1j2_71whs8hUwhp1NiF5m7opU1Tv5BzBwex0g$>
>> Home Page
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2F*2Fnam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com*2F*3Furl*3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2Fwww.ethicalpolitics.org*2Fablunden*2Findex.htm__*3B!!Mih3wA!WCK45j6Y4AscTY1OVN1quxD0_VDKtR1Y9u5SYoUgfTIzhGpvyRCeU6XnFqBCREQ2rLbDLg*24*26data*3D02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C3980c805ddde48ffcda308d81ce02bb5*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291096420282275*26sdata*3D97yLyLrH0AJ5QXEU2RAXGWLVxXa6i54MPGgfam6vXFI*3D*26reserved*3D0__*3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSU!!Mih3wA!XgF09Z_7Jf5M7eawhdePrcY6Ga6UVHH-Wen9Vq7UBXWfzeFgYdOg20ED5HIi0LU90iyCdw*24&data=02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C793f465e2c064597a6ec08d81d52307d*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291586126490969&sdata=NqHc8uV*2BR9b3*2BpgP4CeIG*2F8x8fTkOajO08luWCkeAzo*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUqKioqKioqKioqKiUlKioqKioqKiolJSolJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!Mih3wA!WBb97M0rnCTuW6rx_rhYvkAPQLCK1TlHV1j2_71whs8hUwhp1NiF5m7opU1Tv5Ck5wUnZA$>
>>
>> On 24/06/2020 9:11 am, Alfredo Jornet Gil wrote:
>>
>> thanks S’ma; among the many philosophy of science scholars who discuss
>> what rigorous scientific and scholarship are or can be, your choice—a video
>> critiquing critical theory in terms of what Lindsay refers to as “grievance
>> studies”–is indeed surprising and remarkable in the context of this
>> conversation!
>>
>>
>>
>> In the video, which did not so much touch my small Marxist me (I am not
>> so well read so as to know how much of a Marxist I am!), Lindsay mentions
>> Paolo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed as an example of “critical social
>> justice” books, which he defines as “a codified way to indulge people into
>> self pity…”(min. 47:50). He complains that teachers are being educated with
>> Freire’s book, and that students are being taught with this critical (or,
>> as Lindsay’s says, this self-pity) attitude. Without going into whether
>> Lindsay’s critique holds or has any touch with what critical theory
>> scholars argue and do, I wonder, what would be, from Lindsay’s position, an
>> example of a good book for teachers, and why would that one be it?
>>
>>
>>
>> Alfredo
>>
>> *From: *<xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> <xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu> on behalf of Martin Packer
>> <mpacker@cantab.net> <mpacker@cantab.net>
>> *Reply to: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Date: *Tuesday, 23 June 2020 at 23:54
>> *To: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject: *[Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Simangele,
>>
>>
>>
>> How are you evaluating “level of mental functioning”? I would say that is
>> something with which psychology has had some difficulty.
>>
>>
>>
>> Martin
>>
>>
>>
>> *"I may say that whenever I meet Mrs. Seligman or Dr. Lowie or discuss
>> matters with Radcliffe-Brown or Kroeber, I become at once aware that my
>> partner does not understand anything in the matter, and I end usually with
>> the feeling that this also applies to myself” (Malinowski, 1930)*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 23, 2020, at 4:32 PM, Simangele Mayisela <
>> simangele.mayisela@wits.ac.za> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Further, I still have more questions, however it does appear to me that
>> at the heart of the “hypothesis” of the scientific question are the
>> “levels” of mental development which are associated to “skin colour”, with
>> little consideration of the historical oppression that created the
>> “backwards” economies that keep the third of the global population is what
>> appears to be of low level of mental functioning. The question is more
>> about “what is the quality of the contents of what is embodies by the black
>> skin or a white skin?” with the aim to find evidence for the difference.
>>
>>
>>
>> Just to share, lately have been viewing James Lindsay argument on what
>> is “scientific”, “rigorous scientific” and “scholarship” vs popular
>> narratives that are a propaganda based on Critical Theory, which are taking
>> over academy. Here is one his videos that you may want to view – if you are
>> Marxist at heart be warned that you may be challenged by Lindsay’s argument
>> on ideologies.
>>
>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N55gFjg4yg__;!!Mih3wA!V-mYNb3iJ4MF7rB0hejs8XZr-x47zmuly5qtpqPQPH_4pacZ-MyCn3K8BNOiCivVsiKM3Q$
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2F*2Fnam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com*2F*3Furl*3Dhttps*3A*2F*2Furldefense.com*2Fv3*2F__https*3A*2Fwww.youtube.com*2Fwatch*3Fv*3D8N55gFjg4yg__*3B!!Mih3wA!V2LYI2I2g-qSP--eE84G38eGWBud9YwatVDWX1IvY27YgsR7kTdkqVGDNoLNCYNmswIv-Q*24*26data*3D02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C3980c805ddde48ffcda308d81ce02bb5*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291096420292271*26sdata*3DtYB881hofx2qlKcYHVaGFLwJWbzpFnRD8oRsTDV1y3U*3D*26reserved*3D0__*3BJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!Mih3wA!XgF09Z_7Jf5M7eawhdePrcY6Ga6UVHH-Wen9Vq7UBXWfzeFgYdOg20ED5HIi0LWZEZpvXQ*24&data=02*7C01*7Cdkirsh*40lsu.edu*7C793f465e2c064597a6ec08d81d52307d*7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8*7C0*7C0*7C637291586126490969&sdata=QtplwvBnPbeO8pEDjpsqP1r5VP8rKbh4hV6gmpYUbDE*3D&reserved=0__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUqKioqKioqKioqKiolJSoqKioqKioqJSUqJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJQ!!Mih3wA!WBb97M0rnCTuW6rx_rhYvkAPQLCK1TlHV1j2_71whs8hUwhp1NiF5m7opU1Tv5Aaswj01g$>
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> S’ma
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Simangele Mayisela
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, 23 June 2020 22:10
>> *To:* eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>> *Subject:* RE: [Xmca-l] Re: Your views on a question.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Alfredo
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you for taking my attention of “level” which is crucial to
>> rendering the question “scientific”. But couple with level, which could be
>> quantifies as “high” and “low” or “superior” or “inferior” would account
>> for “difference”. As much as the question to be asked should be about the
>> “ideological basis” , I think the “hypothesis” is likely to be linked to
>> the “ideolody” as the hypothesis serves as springboard from which the
>> scientist works from, which informs where the person will land in terms
>> of the ideas.
>>
>>
>>
>> Nevertheless thank you for the clarification. I see what you mean ?
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> S’ma
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>
> Crush human humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it
> will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of
> rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the
> same fruit, according to its kind. C.Dickens.
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Cultural Praxis Website: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://culturalpraxis.net__;!!Mih3wA!V-mYNb3iJ4MF7rB0hejs8XZr-x47zmuly5qtpqPQPH_4pacZ-MyCn3K8BNOiCivThQbJOQ$
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://culturalpraxis.net__;!!Mih3wA!Q_q_DNhDoq1Xzty8Vz0Wuuux1nL8ULgJJJ2-vL13YzNjFRpGelADB-JXAxMUbAotW_H_mw$>
> Re-generating CHAT Website: re-generatingchat.com
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://re-generatingchat.com__;!!Mih3wA!Q_q_DNhDoq1Xzty8Vz0Wuuux1nL8ULgJJJ2-vL13YzNjFRpGelADB-JXAxMUbAoOrejabA$>
> Archival resources website: lchc.ucsd.edu.
> Narrative history of LCHC: lchcautobio.ucsd.edu.
>
>
>
>
--
Crush human humanity out of shape once more, under similar hammers, and it
will twist itself into the same tortured forms. Sow the same seed of
rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the
same fruit, according to its kind. C.Dickens.
---------------------------------------------------
Cultural Praxis Website: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://culturalpraxis.net__;!!Mih3wA!V-mYNb3iJ4MF7rB0hejs8XZr-x47zmuly5qtpqPQPH_4pacZ-MyCn3K8BNOiCivThQbJOQ$
Re-generating CHAT Website: re-generatingchat.com
Archival resources website: lchc.ucsd.edu.
Narrative history of LCHC: lchcautobio.ucsd.edu.
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