Embattled Reason (1985) 1.Opening Reason attacked “from the right” for questioning tradition is now attacked “from the left” as ground and support of hierarchy. Some enemies on the left attack reason from within. 1.1. Methodological Interlude Foundational exploration and secondary commentary are distinct tasks. Yet there can be fruitful dialogue between them. We proceed […]
A Dream of Reason VI: Walking in the World: Entering through Foundational Regional Explorations (Sections)
VI: Walking in the World: Entering through Foundational Regional Explorations (Sections) Opening (2005) Because this is the final section and because the issues considered are often classified as “substantive” it may seem to be an attempt to empirically apply and test formulations articulated in earlier essays. This reading is incorrect. This section is as […]
A Dream of Reason- VI: Part 1 The Mediators (1964)
The Mediators (1964) 1.Opening These notes, written in 1964 and revised along their original lines in 1993, are based on interviews with painters Isabel Bishop, Philip Reisman, Isaac, Moses and Raphael Soyer. Isaac is my father. Moses and Raphael are my uncles. Their art matured in the 1930’s. They are usually classified as “regionalists” […]
A Dream of Reason- VI: Part 2 On Instruction (1973)
On Instruction (1973) 1. Opening 1.1. Instruction and Education 1.11 This essay belongs to the sociology-psychology of education.[1] Yet the term “education” rarely appears in it. Why? Sociology-psychology is a species of theoretical reason. Theoretical reason cannot take consensus qua consensus as its measure and standard. It would assault sociological-psychological reason to follow […]
A Dream of Reason- VI: Part 3 Plague Notes (1987)
Plague Notes (1987) 1.Opening (1995) This essay – a product of the age of A.I.D.S. – addresses the developing planetary crisis. We focus on global plague as a pathology on the border between our life together and apart and biological nature. [1] 2. A Brief Note on Relevant Purely Sociological-Psychological Pathologies. (1995) As […]
A Dream of Reason- VI: Part 4 Thread in the Labyrinth (1985): AA’s Mechanism of Action
Thread in the Labyrinth (1985): AA’s Mechanism of Action by Avron Soyer 1.Opening Our theoretical focus is pursuit of “the negative absolute.” Our substantive focus is alcoholism and “the explicit culture” of Alcoholics Anonymous…. By the explicit culture of A. A. we intend “the twelve steps” (59-60) and “the […]
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