[WS:] Assuming that the higher percentage of lunatics claim is true, it begs more questions that it explains. For one, why is it that one country has a higher percentage of lunatics than another? I do not think that looking into individuals' psyche as an ultimate cause can provide any convincing explanation. OTOH, if we assume that individual psyche is shaped by the social environment (as in the "being determines consciousness" trope) we can explain the higher incidence of lunatics in the leadership position and society without much difficulties.
Wojtek
On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 1:04 PM, c b <cb31450 at gmail.com> wrote:
> [lbo-talk] Wojtek S
> Dennis: "And outside of analysis itself, don't you think learning
> about psychoanalysis helps further understanding of this world we're
> living in?"
> [WS:] I think psychoanalysis obscures more than it can explain. "Inner
> sexual desires?" It reads more like a trashy novel than a scientific
> analysis.
>
> Do not get me wrong, I agree with your main point that understanding
> the motives of human actors can provide useful insights into our
> understanding of institutional behavior. I just do not think that
> psychoanalysis is the right tool to do this job. It focuses too much
> on non-observable "inner motives" while missing social determinants of
> these motives. In that respect, psychoanalysis is to behavioral
> science what the neo-classical school is to economics.
>
> Wojtek
>
> ^^^^^
> CB: Would we say that Israeli commandos attacked the flotilla because
> Israel has an unusally high percentage of leaders ( people ?) who are
> lunatics ?
>
> What is the psychanalytical term for "lunatic" ?
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