Gary Peterson wrote " Explore the problem of reification in psych and social
sciences; that is, the tendency to treat abstract terms and hypothetical
process words
as if they are fixed things. Much of the historical work on consciousness,
mind, etc., implied dynamic, on-going processes more in keeping with what we
may learn from neuro, but it is fascinating to see how our language efforts
promote static images of such ideas. Again, I think students might benefit
from such discussion of the treatment of these concepts. "
And nowhere does language affect our ability to describe/understand a
phenomenon as in the case of hypnosis. That's another concept that is
better thought of as a functtion (i.e., something we do" rather than a
"state" i.e., a condition we enter. It's also another topic that Jaynes
deals with beautifully in his "Origins of Consciousness...."
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Office (610)436-2945
>Professor and Chairperson Home (610)363-1939
>Department of Psychology FAX (610)436-2846
>West Chester University [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>West Chester, PA 19383 www.wcupa.edu
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Husband, father, biopsychologist and bluegrass fiddler...........
>not necessarily in order of importance. AAFOUF#0064
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
