Paul Okami wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Wallace E. Dixon, Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, December 04, 2004 6:18 PM
Subject: Re: APA President-elect
Well....yes....but.....is it really your claim that APA's primary concernis
to make money and acquire power?
Yes, exactly. In my view APAs primary interest is identical to that of any agricultural, pharmaceutical, or other special interest lobby group--to advance the financial standings and power of the psychology industry, primarily its clinical practice wing.
I doubt it's declared as such in their
charter and bylaws.
Yes, well, the actual purpose of the Department of Agriculture is not specifically stated in its by-laws either. See Marion Nestle's magnificent and eye-opening "Food Politics."
Regards, Paul Okami
Academic societies have historically only been allowed to function by eschewing power and wealth. Look at the charter of the Royal Society. The Royal Society was only able to charter as an institution that would pursue "basic science" without the bias of economic or political motives. This seems wonderfully pure in looking back on it, but it was a clear recognition at the time that science (knowledge) was power, and the Royal Society, in order to be recognized, had to deny power, in order to pursue knowledge. The Crown would use that knowledge for the benefit of "all". The entire "basic science" idea is a compromise to appease those who would pay for and then use the results of science for political purpose. To me, it is sciolistic to propose that science and practice and politics/public policy can be independent of each other.
Bill Scott .
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