Anti-Cartesianism
HDCS6 who-is-at jetson.uh.edu
Sun, 17 Sep 1995 19:16:30 -0500 (CDT)
I do hope the idea of anti-Cartesianism and epistemology does take off.
There are a number of issues I have concerning it. To begin with,
what is it. Does it just mean anti-Descartes? Or does it have a larger
meaning, such an anti-mind body distinction. Is there anybody out there
who still really thinks there is a mind body distinction? But is there
anybody out there who can really conceptualize an epistemological system
where there isn't a mind body distinction? What relevance does being
pro-Cartesianist or anti-Cartesianist have to the study of human development?
If it is a philosophical question that cannot be answered by either
reverting to mysticism or non-linear dynamics (which I sometimes think
are one in the same thing) is the continued discussion of it similar
to arguing about angels dancing on the head of a pin.
I have a secondary issue that seems to be mentioned in the same breath,
but that I may be misreading. Do people believe that constructivism
and social historical theory are built on different epistemological
ground wok? What are the arguments for this. I will say that there are
branches of sociocultural theories (plural on rpose) that are formed
on a different epistemological base....but....?
Ah, this hit a raw nerve. It dithe last time the mind body
distinction came up. These are the problmes that plague my
existence. I hope somebody has an answer to any one of these
questions.
Michael Glassman
University of Houston