re: the scientific status of pcp
Devi (anima@devi.demon.co.uk)
Fri, 21 Jun 1996 20:42:11 +0100
Last Monday, I mailed a quotation from Gary Blanchard who had suggested
that I extract the most pertinent item from our recent private
correspondence. It was as follows:
>
> >(a)'constructivists'[small 'c'] hold the following world-view:
> >
> > 1. the world is composed of objects and things,
> > 2. these items become known to us through 'perception,'
> > 3. this perception process basically operates automatically,
> > somewhat like a tape-recorder or camera, into our 'mind'
> > 4. and so does not involve any significant interpreting
> > activity by us,
> > 5. and is not affected by our observations of, or actions
> > about, them.
> >
> > (b) The above, I submit, is a fair summary of what may be termed
> > a philosophy / paradigm / ontology of Objectivism
Tim Connor writes:
>Are (a) and (b) below part of the same statement from the same author?
>i.e., is the assertion that constructivism [small c]=objectivism?
Indeed they are. As I said, this quote summarises for me the stance that
Gary takes, namely, oscilating between two epistemologies which to me for
one, are incompatible.
As I said to him when I received it, if he wants to define a dog as a
creature which has four legs, likes cream, and goes "meow", that's up to
him, but he should share this private definition with his correspondents if
he wishes to be understood. That's what prompted him to suggest to me that
I post a suitable extract.
Kindest regards,
Devi Jankowicz
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