Re: [Critical-Realism] deon

["Mervyn Hartwig" <mh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Tobin

The interpretation I put forward (leaving aside the issues of "de-"  and
plurality of meanings, re both of which I've taken your points [the former
unacknowledged]) is that two of the meanings of the Greek words "on which
deontology ... is formed: (1) to bind, fasten, fetter; and (2) to want,
lack, need ... come together in the pivotal CR concept of absence ... as
constraint (fetter) and as lack or ill-being (need), thereby unifying ethics
with the theory of being." That is, inter alia, I find it significant that
what Bhaskar derives analytically from the concept of "absence" and from
transcendental analysis of human praxis as such is mirrored (doubtless in a
complex way) in the linguistic praxis of ordinary (ancient Greek) life. It
would be interesting and constructive to explore the extent to which this is
so in other languages.

The main thrust of your intervention has been to call  this interpretation
into question, or at any rate diminish its significance. As you yourself
summarised: "I showed that you were producing a forced interpretion of the
Greek in order to support your fanciful analysis." If you now want to resile
from that, that's absolutely fine by me, but there's no call while you're at
it to stoop to the ad hominem. 

I interpreted your omission, on this occasion, of "need" from the definition
of "deon" and your calling attention to the fact of two separate entries on
"deo"  in the context of your somewhat hostile and unconstructive attitude
to my overall interpretation. The fact of separate entries does not of
course entail lack of etymological  connection, and it remains unclear what
significance you do attach to it.

Mervyn 

-----Original Message-----
From: critical-realism-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:critical-realism-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tobin
Nellhaus
Sent: 09 December 2007 21:46
To: Continuation of the Spoon Bhaskar List
Subject: Re: [Critical-Realism] deon

> But I don't think you're right re "deon". You don't mention that "needful"
> and "need" is part of the Liddell and Scott definition (under "deon"),
> besides "binding", "right" etc, such that both of the ethical inflections
> Bhaskar gives to "absence" (bind/constraint and need/lack) are indeed
> present in this ancient Greek root.
>

Now that's a ridiculous claim, since I acknowledged the two meanings of
"deon" in *several* emails: two emails on the 4th, again on the 5th, and yet
once more today, when I expressed surprise that L&S attribute the different
meanings to different words (in which case, in a sense "deon" has two
identical-sounding roots).  Really, Mervyn, either your memory or your
reading is terribly slipshod.  Since several people have complained about
your reading methods in the past few days, maybe there's an issue?

T.

---
Tobin Nellhaus
nellhaus@xxxxxxxx
"Faith requires us to be materialists without flinching": C.S. Peirce



_______________________________________________
Critical-Realism mailing list
Critical-Realism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism

__________ NOD32 2712 (20071209) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com



_______________________________________________
Critical-Realism mailing list
Critical-Realism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/critical-realism