RE: MD Two theories of truth

From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Sun Nov 16 2003 - 15:46:27 GMT

  • Next message: Platt Holden: "Re: MD What makes an idea dangerous?"

    Matt, DMB

    > dmb says:
    > I don't share Platt's view of intersubjectivity as "groupthink" or
    > whatever. I think Matt was quite right to point out that forced
    > conformity brought about by the coercive tactics of political tyrannts
    > is another thing entirely.

    A nice example of DMB and Matt engaging in the philosophical game of
    "redescription" to suit their own agendas instead of sticking to common
    meanings of words. From Google glossary:

    "The capacity for group pressure to damage the mental efficiency,
    reality testing, and moral judgment of decision-making groups

    "The tendency to make decisions intended primarily to promote the
    harmony of the group

    "A group process in which group members work so hard to achieve
    unanimous agreement that they fail realistically to consider the
    various alternative courses of action available to them

    "Valuing social harmony over doing a thorough job.

    "The process by which members of a cohesive group arrive at a decision
    that many individual members privately believe is unwise

    "The forces that tend to suppress or resist divergent thinking when a
    group is working to accomplish a specific task within a limited period
    of time."

    "A phenomenon in which members of a group are led to suppress their own
    dissent in the interests of group consensus."

    There you have it. Not a single reference to "coercive tactics by
    political tyrants."

    "Groupthink" is a perfect synonym for "intersubjective agreement," not
    only because it accurately descibes experience but hauls an abstract,
    innocent-sounding phrase down to earth where it's negative underbelly
    can be seen. "Intersubjective agreement" should give pause to anyone
    who values their individuality and independence.

    Platt

    MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
    Mail Archives:
    Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
    Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
    MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net

    To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
    http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Nov 16 2003 - 15:44:35 GMT