quotes from miles and carrol that support this characterization would be helpful. i wrote in support of carrol's and miles's views. did you see anything to support the above (or below) for that matter -- in any of their or my posts.
I think it would probably help if you at least tried to argue with what people are saying . I mean, minds changing minds an' all... kinda behooves you to give a shit what the other minds are actually thinking, not what you wish them to think.
the spittle directed carrol's way, kinda green. see if you can't get antibiotics for that or something.
yes, i am now exhibiting some hostility b/c the mischaracterization of miles's position -- RFA.
>Supposedly, society will evolve blindly, spontaneously -- hopefully
>for the better, although who can be sure of that. Supposedly, our
>minds simply trail, react to the automatic evolution of social
>conditions. No feedback in the other direction. Social conditions
>change individuals. Individuals are objects, not subjects.
>Individuals are absolutely powerless and can only accept their social
>conditions as given.
>
>To me, this is the most dangerous belief in the left. The fact that
>people in the left try to rationalize it and present it as some sort
>of sophisticated theory of social life makes things even worse. In
>its politically consequences, it is suicidal. Of course, the concrete
>damage depends on how widespread the belief is. Let me note that, on
>this list, Miles is not the only person making the explicit argument
>that individual consciousness is irrelevant. Carrol frequently
>insists on that same point. Maybe people here don't take Miles' or
>Carrol's arguments seriously. I do, because I'm sure they are
>representative of collectively held views that translate into
>political paralysis, the acceptance of the status quo under the guise
>of profound understanding of the ways of the world.
>
>I admit candidly that I'm in the business of helping people change
>their minds, so that people are in a better position to change their
>social conditions for good. Ultimately, to be frank, if one is not
>leading, or following, or stepping aside, then one is in the way. I
>said I'm in the business of helping people change their minds. I
>should add, first and foremost, of helping myself change my own mind.
>(That's what I call *learning*.) My own mind first, because it's the
>one I may have a bit of more influence on. That said, I don't think
>it's too naive to assume that, one way or another, we *all* are in
>that same business. Else, why would we be spending our precious
>energies in debates (or lurking) on these lists?
>___________________________________
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