=2E.. and also there is always the problem with excerpting, that the given
quote does not tell the reader what kind of a moment it is in the whole
line of reasoning...
>but his
>argument seems to be that describing the way people *experience* "paradox"
>doesn't amount to an *understanding* of it. I think this raises (again)
>interesting questions of whom one is writing for. One might think that a
>"critical" theory, of all kinds of theory, surely is best directed at
>increasing the comprehension of those who have become victims of social
>change. And directed to raising others' awareness of these victims'
>plight.
Yes. Not just pity or self-pity, of course, but something activating new
change towards less victimization, etc. The narrative from inside the
lifeworld -- "telling it as it is" -- certainly can be woven as a powerful
and valid text.
Yet, Martin, I think this is precisely where an understanding of larger
systemic "structures" and "forces" may give additional leverage, compared
to the story-told-from-inside. Become tools in the hands of the "victims"
(and: remember Dianes signature quote...) Like the primary-centering to
de-centering to re-centering movement Arne Raeithel used to write about
(struggling a bit with the best word for the first concept in the triad...)
where the centering in the lifeworld is where "we" mostly are: inside,
where a thing is what a thing is...
Then, there is also something deeply human about the de-centering ability:
to "step outside" where a thing may be very different from its appearance,
look at the world as if you did not participate in it. It has been put to
lots of very inhuman uses, for sure. Nevertheless: isn't science
(research-from-outside) the offspring of pretend-play and other forms of
play (whereby children begin to appropriate adulthood).
And... when the story-from-inside tells us there has to be a change, the
stories-from-outside may indicate where the best places to apply our forces
in "systemic dynamics of economic development" (or whatever) are. Which is
the re-centering move: to go back inside the lifeworld with an insight
gained from looking at it "from outside" and put it into action.
Now, I think that narrative may both contain insights from these
de-centered forms of research activity as story elements. And, perhaps,
also embody some systemic insight in its narrative form. (I wonder if you
are not already doing that?)
Eva
PS Expect no more messages from me for a while in public OR private channels=
=2E