Re: [Critical-Realism] rts2-11

["Mervyn Hartwig" <mh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Tobin

I don't think it is the same. The infant 'just "thinks"' (that she alone
exists), she doesn't go 'I think, therefore I exist'. In fact this is in
line with one of the standard criticisms of the cogito: it doesn't show that
"I" indubitably exist, it just shows that thinking is occurring. The infant
of course quickly discovers that there is a world beyond herself.

Mervyn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tobin Nellhaus" <nellhaus@xxxxxxxx>
To: "Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List"
<critical-realism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2007 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] rts2-11


> Mervyn--
>
>> One can readily suggest in turn that the infant's whatever that she alone
>> exists comprises genuine knowledge (she exists) and error (she's not
>> alone).
>
> Just two questions.  Are you aware that this says, "I think, therefore I
> am"?  Second, do you believe that this Cartesian thesis is correct?
>
> Tobin
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mervyn Hartwig" <mh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List"
> <critical-realism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2007 3:54 AM
> Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] rts2-11
>
>
>> Hi Tobin, Jan
>>
>> One can readily suggest in turn that the infant's whatever that she alone
>> exists comprises genuine knowledge (she exists) and error (she's not
>> alone).
>> On the basis of non-error + error, but not of error alone, she makes
>> further
>> real and erroneous discoveries...
>>
>> I accept btw Archer's stuff on the primacy of practice, i.e. I'm not
>> saying
>> that knowledge derived from socialisation necessarily plays any role
>> here.
>> As you know, Archer theorises the emergence of personal emergent powers
>> on
>> that basis, chief of which is self-consciousness (reflexivity), personal
>> identity and then social identity. I'm not sure, Jan, that knowledge is
>> one
>> of these ('an ability'); I see it rather as an outcome of other abilities
>> deployed in the world.
>>
>> Mervyn
>>
>>


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