Phyllis, List, First of all, Phyllis, welcome back to the List! I know a little of the health challenges you've been facing since 2014 when you asked me to read your paper for the Peirce International Centennial Conference, so I am more than delighted to see you back, active again on Peirce-L.
It's extremely valuable, I believe, to have pragmatistic philosophers such as yourself, well versed in the arts and with solid experience in humanities education, sounding in on List discussions. Sometimes it has felt to me as if we've forgotten the vital importance of the humanities to a well-rounded life, to healthy communities, scientific and otherwise. I have occasion thought that the 'hard sciences' have, single-mindedly pursued, perhaps hardened *us* in ways that undermine our common humanity. As moderator of Peirce-L, I must admit that I have found the last few years often to be painfully lacking in fellow feeling and collegiality. I should note that some of the unfortunately, currently under-represented women, some once active on the List, have expressed something to this effect to me, and even recently. So I am hoping that your return to participation on Peirce-L will encourage some of them to also become more active again (although lurkers of all persuasions are heartily welcomed here!) Certainly topics related to pragmatism and the humanities would be very much welcomed here--and I know not only by me! In any event, I've personally missed you and am very glad to see you back. Best regards always, Gary R PC: Phenomenology is (with math) the underpinning of both scientific inquiry and everyday reasoning. Improve one's capability for observation and classification and you improve his/her ability to think and reason. I completely agree. Even for those who see the immense value, nay, the necessity of both mathematics and phenomenology in underpinning scientific reason, it's easy to forget -- at least it is for me -- that those two disciplines also improve one's everyday reasoning. Your philosophical work seems to me to have never forgotten that when we are not 'doing' science or philosophy, that our quotidian lives are improved by our being better able to observe and reason, that these are essential elements in every man and woman's best functioning. “Let everything happen to you Beauty and terror Just keep going No feeling is final” ― Rainer Maria Rilke *Gary Richmond* *Philosophy and Critical Thinking* *Communication Studies* *LaGuardia College of the City University of New York* On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 12:47 PM Phyllis Chiasson < phyllis.marie.chias...@gmail.com> wrote: > Phenomenology is (with math) the underpinning of both scientific inquiry > and everyday reasoning. Improve one's capability for observation and > classification and you improve his/her ability to think and reason. > Neglected Argument has interesting things to say about the categories and > this process as does What Pragmatism Is. > > On Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 9:26 AM Jon Alan Schmidt <jonalanschm...@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Robert, Phyllis, Jon A., List: >> >> I agree with Robert's caveat, although he once again cites Peirce's very >> early (c. 1894-1896) classification, which completely omits the *distinct >> *science that he later calls "phenomenology" and then "phaneroscopy." >> After all, the task of *every *scientist in *every *discipline is "to >> observe and to classify observations." In Peirce's classification, what >> differentiates any one science from the others is its *purpose *and the >> resulting focus of its *attention*. As quoted by Gary F. to this effect >> last week, Peirce states the following in a letter to William James. >> >> CSP: Psychology, you may say, observes the same facts as phenomenology >> does. No. It does not *observe *the same facts. It looks upon the same >> world;--the same world that the astronomer looks at. But what it >> *observes *in that world is different. (CP 8.297, 1904) >> >> >> As Peirce writes two paragraphs earlier, phenomenology here is "just the >> analysis of what kind of constituents there are in our thoughts and lives" >> (CP 8.295). The example below may be "phenomenology" in *another *sense, >> but not in accordance with *Peirce's *definitions. >> >> Regards, >> >> Jon Alan Schmidt - Olathe, Kansas, USA >> Structural Engineer, Synechist Philosopher, Lutheran Christian >> www.LinkedIn.com/in/JonAlanSchmidt - twitter.com/JonAlanSchmidt >> >> On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 11:11 AM robert marty <robert.mart...@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Without forgetting that they classify their observations "with the >>> purpose of identifying their forms with those mathematics has studied, " ( >>> [C.S. >>> Peirce, 1976: NEM, vol III.2 1122], MS 1345) otherwise there would be >>> only empirical sciences, and we would still be at the physics of Aristotle >>> and the chemistry of phlogiston. >>> Honorary Professor; Ph.D. Mathematics; Ph.D. Philosophy >>> fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Marty >>> *https://martyrobert.academia.edu/ <https://martyrobert.academia.edu/>* >>> >>> Le mar. 31 août 2021 à 17:47, Phyllis Chiasson < >>> phyllis.marie.chias...@gmail.com> a écrit : >>> >>>> Thank you for this. Peirce said that the task of the phenomenologist is >>>> to observe and to classify observations. This is a good example of that. >>>> >>>> On Tue, Aug 31, 2021, 8:30 AM Jon Awbrey <jawb...@att.net> wrote: >>>> >>>>> All, >>>>> >>>>> Continuing with our Phenomenological∫Phaneroscopic survey of colleges >>>>> and their course catalogues, let's take up the sample Gary R. supplied and >>>>> see how Phenomenology is manifested there. >>>>> >>>>> Searching the Azusa Pacific University site on “Phenomenology” I get >>>>> exactly one hit: >>>>> >>>>> • https://www.apu.edu/articles/search/?q=Phenomenology&Search=#results >>>>> >>>>> Result 1 >>>>> >>>>> On Living and Aging: The Voices of the Oldest Old >>>>> >>>>> Over the course of their very long lives, these oldest-old people >>>>> developed vibrant habits of the heart and mind that inspired them to focus >>>>> on the good and live with gratitude. >>>>> >>>>> • >>>>> https://www.apu.edu/articles/on-living-and-aging-the-voices-of-the-oldest-old/ >>>>> >>>>> The haul this time is one superb article. It exemplifies one of the >>>>> most important and interesting styles of phenomenology as I knew it in the >>>>> real world of qualitative observational research studies. It would do a >>>>> few >>>>> of the members of this List a world of good to come down from their >>>>> Phaneroscopic Towers and study what real researchers in real sciences do >>>>> on >>>>> their day jobs. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Jon >>>>> >>>>> <QUOTE Julie Pusztai:> >>>>> > >>>>> > On Living and Aging: The Voices of the Oldest Old by Julie Pusztai >>>>> > >>>>> > Hardly a day passed when I did not talk to someone growing old or >>>>> someone with an aging parent, spouse, family >>>>> > member, or friend. This includes my own father, a member of that >>>>> growing population age 85 and older—the oldest old. >>>>> > I wondered how they lived with all the changes and was eager to >>>>> understand. Phenomenology, my doctoral research >>>>> > approach, provided a way to listen to them—to examine this most >>>>> ordinary, yet extraordinary, experience of growing >>>>> > very, very old with its losses and gains, sadness and happiness, >>>>> satisfaction and disappointment, and sense of >>>>> > meaning and purpose. >>>>> > >>>>> > Phenomenology investigates the actual lived experience of a >>>>> phenomenon by describing and interpreting narrative data. >>>>> > Thirteen people from 87 to 100 years old who represented diverse >>>>> backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders participated >>>>> > in my study. They shared their stories with me during three separate >>>>> interviews that focused on their life history, >>>>> > typical day, and experiences of aging. Each approached these late >>>>> years influenced by the unique context of their >>>>> > past, present, and envisioned future. All had their own tale to >>>>> tell, and all shared with honesty. >>>>> > >>>>> > Most people recognize the physical changes that occur as a result of >>>>> living a very long life. When the body reaches >>>>> > oldest-old age, it speaks loudly. Caregivers must listen attentively >>>>> to gauge the impact this has on the individual’s >>>>> > life and the person’s resulting daily challenges. Practical matters >>>>> need attention and falls must be prevented. >>>>> > Slowness and fatigue persist, and living with pain may become the >>>>> new normal. Losses of vision, hearing, and memory, >>>>> > even the ability to walk without assistance, usually lead to >>>>> surrendering drivers’ licenses and the dreaded decrease >>>>> > of independence and increase of dependence. While all of these >>>>> limitations produced significant, personal meaning, it >>>>> > was through listening and relistening to the narratives of these 13 >>>>> people that I began discerning the hard work and >>>>> > intentionality used to prevent these challenges and changes from >>>>> determining their attitudes. They walk on a >>>>> > tightrope, gripping their balance pole to remain hopeful and >>>>> positive. >>>>> > >>>>> > One factor that helps them maintain that balance is staying >>>>> connected, largely through family. The narrators >>>>> > explained that they gained great satisfaction from strengthening >>>>> family ties, discovering the trustworthiness of >>>>> > children, and feeling celebrated and important to others. And while >>>>> most identified aspects of a satisfying life, >>>>> > some could not. A few respondents stated: “I can’t think of anything >>>>> positive.” Such bleakness and discouragement >>>>> > signal a red flag to caregivers and loved ones to respond with >>>>> support and encouragement. >>>>> > >>>>> > Those who exhibited prevailing positivity, however, revealed a >>>>> common pattern. Over the course of their very long, >>>>> > and at times difficult, lives, these oldest-old people developed >>>>> vibrant habits of the heart and mind that inspired >>>>> > them to focus on the good and live with gratitude. One comment still >>>>> rings in my ears: “What does it profit?” Without >>>>> > exception, these wise elders recognized that no good comes from >>>>> dwelling on the challenges and changes that >>>>> > confronted them. Instead, “I like thinking of good things,” “I just >>>>> go with the flow,” and “I choose to be positive” >>>>> > became lifelong practices. They consider themselves survivors, and >>>>> they have a discipline that leads them to hope and >>>>> > positivity. As an 88-year-old woman expressed, “It’s a thing of >>>>> learning . . . learning a new way of being and >>>>> > doing.” The themes of “I can” and “I cannot” in the aging experience >>>>> take on deep and rich meaning when employed to >>>>> > understand the losses at that stage of life. This resulted in >>>>> corresponding changes in the “I ams” and “I am nots” >>>>> > and the relinquishment of long-held notions of identity. In the face >>>>> of this, we can recognize and support the >>>>> > resilience in these survivors and affirm new ways of being. >>>>> > >>>>> > Very old age reminds us all of our mortality. These people in their >>>>> ninth and tenth decades took advantage of today, >>>>> > knowing tomorrow cannot be taken for granted. This boundary speaks >>>>> to them about what is meaningful, what matters, >>>>> > and where to channel their energy. Living in positive relationships >>>>> provides the love, care, and source of purpose >>>>> > and meaning for being in the world. They serve as reminders of >>>>> meaning that can get lost when one is weary, the days >>>>> > are long, and the walk on the tightrope seems especially arduous. >>>>> Helping our aging loved ones work through losses >>>>> > and find purpose constitutes a foundation of support. While spending >>>>> time with the oldest old, I had the pleasure to >>>>> > learn that on most days, they balance on that tightrope; they taught >>>>> me the importance of not yoking our most senior >>>>> > seniors with the burden of aging “successfully.” Instead, we need to >>>>> know such elders well, understand what aging >>>>> > means to them, and hold them close, knowing that we will most likely >>>>> inherit their place and seek to do so with the >>>>> > same measure of grace and dignity we can learn from them. >>>>> > >>>>> > Posted: July 18, 2016 >>>>> > >>>>> > Julie Pusztai, Ph.D., RN, is director of the Azusa Neighborhood >>>>> Wellness Center and an assistant professor in the >>>>> > School of Nursing. jpusz...@apu.edu >>>>> > >>>>> > Originally published in the Summer '16 issue of APU Life. Download >>>>> the PDF or view all issues. >>>>> </QUOTE> >>>> >>>> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ >> ► PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON >> PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to >> peirce-L@list.iupui.edu . >> ► To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message NOT to PEIRCE-L but to >> l...@list.iupui.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE PEIRCE-L in the SUBJECT LINE of the >> message and nothing in the body. More at >> https://list.iupui.edu/sympa/help/user-signoff.html . >> ► PEIRCE-L is owned by THE PEIRCE GROUP; moderated by Gary Richmond; >> and co-managed by him and Ben Udell. >> > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > ► PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON > PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to > peirce-L@list.iupui.edu . > ► To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message NOT to PEIRCE-L but to > l...@list.iupui.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE PEIRCE-L in the SUBJECT LINE of the > message and nothing in the body. More at > https://list.iupui.edu/sympa/help/user-signoff.html . > ► PEIRCE-L is owned by THE PEIRCE GROUP; moderated by Gary Richmond; and > co-managed by him and Ben Udell. >
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