Re: leftist encyclopedia

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim's interpretation of a project would produce a Wiki encyclopedia but probably not
a pen-l encyclopedia.  If done more collaboratively, it would be more effective --
but only if we could avoid squabbles.  Maybe that is too much to ask.


On Sat, Apr 03, 2004 at 07:14:11AM -0800, Devine, James wrote:
> The thing about a Wiki-type encyclopedia is that individuals can decide what topics they want to discuss. Gene Coyle, for example, might pen a short essay on electric power regulation (not to put pressure on him). Someone else would then write an essay on Marx's assertion that imperialism actually helped India under the Raj. They don't need to work together (so that the "cats" don't need to be herded). The sticky part is that someone else could come along and edit an entry, saying that it's no so that it's only 15 angels that can dance on the head of a pin (rather, it's 35). The key is to respect the others' viewpoint, to say that there is more than one position on the angels/pin question, etc. (I can imagine: "The petty-bourgeois revisionist running-dog position on the angels/pin question says that... while the correct revolutionary Bolshevick-Leninist would say...")
> Jim Devine
>

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu