From: David Buchanan (DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org)
Date: Mon Aug 09 2004 - 00:06:04 BST
DM, Ian and all:
David Buchanan asked:
How do you figure the word "scientific" has anything to do with being
politically correct?
David M answered:
Ever read Marcuse's One Dimensional Man? -
good discussion in it on the political conformity
of science. Quality has more to offer
then instrumentalism.
dmb replies:
No. Never read Marcuse. Nor do I have any interest in instrumentalism. But I
wanted to point out that we're here to discuss the MOQ and in the MOQ
science and intellect in general is supposed to be independent of political
control, which is considered immoral. And even without any fancy
metaphysics, political conformity makes for very bad science. This is not to
say that science is bad in these cases, but rather that this kind of
corruption is bad for science. This is why I am baffled at Ian's suggestion
that science and political correctitude are connected.
Also, I would beg you to offer explanations and ideas rather than just
dropping names and such. I mean, if you think the ideas are worthy and
interesting why not tell me about it rather than just hint at it?
Further, Marcuse is a Marxist social critic and not a philosopher of science
and his book was published about twenty years before the phrase "politically
correct" became currency. I mean, Marcuse's discussions of political
conformity are not a discussion of "political correctness" per se, but
pertains to a much broader problem with industrial and technological
culture. PC refers to a particular set of beliefs and attitudes held by
left-leaning, post-modern grad students beginning in the mid-eighties. In
other words, I don't see how your response has anything to do with my
question. I asked about the connection between PC and science and you've
offered a discussion of power relations with the industrial West.
See?
Thanks anyway,
dmb
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