This is the final third of the long “conversation with myself” that I had when trying to work out the content and story arc of a new book, Threshold, The Crisis of Western Culture, following a writing technique I learned from Joe Sugarman in the early 1970s.
Mr. Hartmann, the idea that there is such a thing as equilibrium" or "disequilibrium" is itself nonsense. I am not rejecting the allegory. I am saying there is no such thing as "equilibrium" in human society. This is a an example of reification of the worst sort. It is a now largely rejected hangover from the late 19th century, early 20th century notions about structural functionalism in the behavioral sciences. I realize that analogies of various kinds [like metaphor, allegory simile] are handy devices to present new ideas to an audience who has never previously considered such ideas. But your writing has gone off the scale here. You are arguing by analogy. this is not permissible. It is an informal error in logic. But a common one.
Not only is it nonsense to talk about "paradise." It is nonsense to talk about "equilibrium." Both are reifications.
Mr. Hartmann please believe me; I greatly admire your imagination, I lack such a well developed ability as yours. As a teenager I was introduced to Philosophy by my brother in law. He earned a BA degree from a Catholic seminary, subsequently an MA, and he was greatly influenced by Jesuits; whom I also was impressed by. Even then Jim, whom I loved and admired, told me I was too rational. Was it Cardinal Richelieu who said: give me their first several years and the church shall have them for good? Jim said I should allow for the introduction of mysticism and mystery, generally into my thinking. I rejected it then and still largely do, for better or worse. I fell in love with mathematics, physics, astronomy and it was but a short distance from there to rational cosmology and a great gap between Jim and me. Incidentally you might want to watch the 1971 movie THE DEVILS, which is based on Aldous Huxley's novel THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN. The movie contains anachronisms but it is entertaining. Huxley's novel was based on actual events which he serendipitously came upon.
Mr. Hartmann, the idea that there is such a thing as equilibrium" or "disequilibrium" is itself nonsense. I am not rejecting the allegory. I am saying there is no such thing as "equilibrium" in human society. This is a an example of reification of the worst sort. It is a now largely rejected hangover from the late 19th century, early 20th century notions about structural functionalism in the behavioral sciences. I realize that analogies of various kinds [like metaphor, allegory simile] are handy devices to present new ideas to an audience who has never previously considered such ideas. But your writing has gone off the scale here. You are arguing by analogy. this is not permissible. It is an informal error in logic. But a common one.
Not only is it nonsense to talk about "paradise." It is nonsense to talk about "equilibrium." Both are reifications.
I don’t disagree. As noted, this was purely a brainstorming exercise example…
Mr. Hartmann please believe me; I greatly admire your imagination, I lack such a well developed ability as yours. As a teenager I was introduced to Philosophy by my brother in law. He earned a BA degree from a Catholic seminary, subsequently an MA, and he was greatly influenced by Jesuits; whom I also was impressed by. Even then Jim, whom I loved and admired, told me I was too rational. Was it Cardinal Richelieu who said: give me their first several years and the church shall have them for good? Jim said I should allow for the introduction of mysticism and mystery, generally into my thinking. I rejected it then and still largely do, for better or worse. I fell in love with mathematics, physics, astronomy and it was but a short distance from there to rational cosmology and a great gap between Jim and me. Incidentally you might want to watch the 1971 movie THE DEVILS, which is based on Aldous Huxley's novel THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN. The movie contains anachronisms but it is entertaining. Huxley's novel was based on actual events which he serendipitously came upon.
SOYLENT GREEN…