Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] Contradiction inherent in symbolling
Well put. I assume your message concerns the problem of expressing dialectics through formal logical formula. If so, we can investigate more concretely the utility of formal logical expressions for representations of dialectical relations, than the true but rather abstract problem of the correspondence (not identity) between the symbolic systems used to represent the message and the thing represented. The kernel of dialectics is purposive activity, activity with an end. That is, dialectics emerges when life forms do things in order to make some change in the state of the world of their activity (including, of course, themselves). Most dialectical activity is not even willed much less conscious. Some human dialectical activity is, indeed, conscious, and some is expressed in language form (that which is communicated between men). Finally, a relatively small amount of human dialectical activity is expressed in the form of concepts, some of which take the form of formal logic. Formal logical representation is a special category within the general category of dialectics. Having described the place of formal logic in the category of dialectics we can say that the correspondence of formal logical systems to dialectics in general will, by virtue of the former being only a very particular representation of dialectical, i.e. reasoned or logical activity, be restricted relative to the category of dialectics as a whole. In the case of formal logic these restrictions are in part represented by its definitions, axioms, and propositions, but there are also other, (as Marx would put it) hidden restrictions that are necessary to the practice of formal logic. As we wrote above, some human dialectical activity (that which is expressly social) is expressed through language. Most language use according to researchers and theorists of language learning and use, such as Vygotsky, is immediate representation of experience, particularistic and directly related to the activity and things represented. Conceptualisation is a special development of meaningful speech in which particulars are categorised by abstract representations in which particulars are grouped according to some shared relation. The particular utility of the concept is in the use of the abstraction to design models (surrogates) of world conditions entirely from symbolic components without reference to immediate experience. While the concept as the primary instrument of designed activity imparts great advantages to the development of human practice:We pre-suppose labour in a form that stamps it as exclusively human. A spider conducts operations that resemble those of a weaver, and a bee puts to shame many an architect in the construction of her cells. But what distinguishes the worst architect from the best of bees is this, that the architect raises his structure in imagination before he erects it in reality. (Marx Capital vol 1.) it also restricts all creative human activity to the possible constructs of the linguistic system by which it is formulated. For Hegel, conceptual activity includes all forms of consciously designed purposive activity, i.e. the sciences. This is a far larger category than that of 'formal logic.' Formal logic is reason divested of all content but that of relation. In terms of language forms, formal logic is meaningful speech reduced to the conjunctives, determiners, and prepositions. The subjects of the employment of these operators, the nouns, pronouns, adverbs, verbs and adjectives is fortuitous and the outcome of pure logic is indifferent to the relation of the reasoning to actual practice in the world. This is the 'Pure Reason' of Kant, free of all relation to the world of movement and of sense. Need I say that the concept of pure reason as anything but intellectual exercise is pure nonsense from the viewpoint of objective idealist and of materialist dialectical concepts of knowledge. MORE LATER. Victor - Original Message - From: Charles Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Forum for the discussion of theoretical issues raised by Karl Marx andthe thinkers he inspired' marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 19:02 Subject: [Marxism-Thaxis] Contradiction inherent in symbolling There is an inherent contradiction in all efforts to represent, as the process is fundamentally establishing an identity between two different things - the thing represented and the thing being used to represent. I think this is the contradiction that always pops up in math , logic , dialectics because they all involve symboling or representing. This convention is what allows messages across generations of dead and living, yet it carries with it inherent paradox. Will elaborate. CB ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
[Marxism-Thaxis] Contradiction inherent in symbolling
Thanks Victor, Am still contemplating what you say below. Hadn't thought of this - the kernel of dialectics is purposive activity, activity with an end before. Hmmm Charles ^^ Victor _ Well put. I assume your message concerns the problem of expressing dialectics through formal logical formula. If so, we can investigate more concretely the utility of formal logical expressions for representations of dialectical relations, than the true but rather abstract problem of the correspondence (not identity) between the symbolic systems used to represent the message and the thing represented. The kernel of dialectics is purposive activity, activity with an end. That is, dialectics emerges when life forms do things in order to make some change in the state of the world of their activity (including, of course, themselves). Most dialectical activity is not even willed much less conscious. Some human dialectical activity is, indeed, conscious, and some is expressed in language form (that which is communicated between men). Finally, a relatively small amount of human dialectical activity is expressed in the form of concepts, some of which take the form of formal logic. Formal logical representation is a special category within the general category of dialectics. Having described the place of formal logic in the category of dialectics we can say that the correspondence of formal logical systems to dialectics in general will, by virtue of the former being only a very particular representation of dialectical, i.e. reasoned or logical activity, be restricted relative to the category of dialectics as a whole. In the case of formal logic these restrictions are in part represented by its definitions, axioms, and propositions, but there are also other, (as Marx would put it) hidden restrictions that are necessary to the practice of formal logic. As we wrote above, some human dialectical activity (that which is expressly social) is expressed through language. Most language use according to researchers and theorists of language learning and use, such as Vygotsky, is immediate representation of experience, particularistic and directly related to the activity and things represented. Conceptualisation is a special development of meaningful speech in which particulars are categorised by abstract representations in which particulars are grouped according to some shared relation. The particular utility of the concept is in the use of the abstraction to design models (surrogates) of world conditions entirely from symbolic components without reference to immediate experience. While the concept as the primary instrument of designed activity imparts great advantages to the development of human practice:We pre-suppose labour in a form that stamps it as exclusively human. A spider conducts operations that resemble those of a weaver, and a bee puts to shame many an architect in the construction of her cells. But what distinguishes the worst architect from the best of bees is this, that the architect raises his structure in imagination before he erects it in reality. (Marx Capital vol 1.) it also restricts all creative human activity to the possible constructs of the linguistic system by which it is formulated. For Hegel, conceptual activity includes all forms of consciously designed purposive activity, i.e. the sciences. This is a far larger category than that of 'formal logic.' Formal logic is reason divested of all content but that of relation. In terms of language forms, formal logic is meaningful speech reduced to the conjunctives, determiners, and prepositions. The subjects of the employment of these operators, the nouns, pronouns, adverbs, verbs and adjectives is fortuitous and the outcome of pure logic is indifferent to the relation of the reasoning to actual practice in the world. This is the 'Pure Reason' of Kant, free of all relation to the world of movement and of sense. Need I say that the concept of pure reason as anything but intellectual exercise is pure nonsense from the viewpoint of objective idealist and of materialist dialectical concepts of knowledge. MORE LATER. Victor ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
[Marxism-Thaxis] M A S S M A R C H O N W A L L S T. NYC/ Non-violent , direct action
WE MUST TURN OUR OUTRAGE OVER KATRINA INTO A MOVEMENT On the 50th Anniversary of Dec. 1, 1955, the day in Montgomery Alabama that Rosa Parks sparked the modern Civil Rights Movement -- A Call for A NATIONWIDE STRIKE AGAINST POVERTY, RACISM WAR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 NO SCHOOL - NO SHOPPING - NO WORK CONTINUED PROTEST AND TEACH-INS THROUGH DECEMBER 2 AND 3 M A S S M A R C H O N W A L L S T. NYC JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS THE GULF STATES A JOB AT A LIVING WAGE IS A HUMAN RIGHT BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW HEALTHCARE, HOUSING AND EDUCATION NOT WAR AND OCCUPATION The Outrage in New Orleans is a clarion call to the antiwar movement and the grassroots: The time has arrived to take our struggle to a higher level. Let us work together and organize a nationwide strike against Poverty, Racism and War on Dec. 1, 2005, the 50th anniversary of the day that Rosa Parks helped launch the modern civil rights movement - no work, school, or shopping - continued protest through Dec.2 and 3 - A MASS MARCH ON WALL ST. NYC. It is time for the people to demonstrate that they can stop business as usual coast-to-coast when justice requires the people to do so. We owe it to the victims of Katrina, to poor and working people, to the world and to ourselves to find the way to help turn the outrage over Katrina into a mass grassroots movement for social justice, the likes of which this country has not seen for some time. Moreover, it is vitally necessary, and much more possible now, to forge real unity on a phenomenal scale between the movement against the war and the movements of African Americans, people of color, and poor and working people in a struggle for economic, social and political rights. The war and occupation of Iraq and the Katrina outrage have demonstrated to the world the urgent necessity for fundamental change and a movement that is big enough and determined enough to achieve the goal. Katrina has exposed the ugly truths about class and race, poverty, war and militarism. Our solidarity with demands of the survivors of Katrina must evolve from empathy, charity and symbolism to a mighty social force to be reckoned with. Key to this mighty potential will be the forging of a strong alliance with activists and leaders within the African American community in the Gulf States, taking direction from them regarding the kind of solidarity that they need and the demands they are making. Our demand to end the war in Iraq and to bring the troops home now must be backed up by the kind of mass tactics that signal that we mean business. Fifty years ago, Black people in Montgomery, Alabama were forced by law to sit in the back of public buses, and give their seats to any white person who demanded it. When Rosa Parks, a garment worker and civil rights activist, refused to give up her seat to a white man, she sparked the Montgomery bus boycott against segregation on public buses, one of the most successful and truly mass boycotts in history. The Montgomery bus boycott also introduced to the world a young reverend named Martin Luther King Jr., who became the boycott's principal public leader. A Dec. 1 Strike Working Committee was set up at a Sept. 10 Natl. Strategy Meeting of the Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) attended by more than 100 activists. The working committee will develop outreach and building plans for the Dec. 1 strike. Dec. 1 Nationwide strike against poverty, racism and war -- INITIATING ORGANIZATIONS: Troops Out Now Coalition, Million Worker March Movement, Teamsters National Black Caucus, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War Injustice. ___ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
