From: Tobin Nellhaus <nellhaus-AT-biddeford.com>
Subject: RE: RM Conference
Date: Sun, 8 Sep 1996 10:49:23 -0400


I think the need to "introduce critical realism" is a real one (if you'll 
excuse the term); however, I'm wondering if an essentially abstract 
approach is likely to catch much attention.  At least judging from my own 
convention-going habits, I tend to look at what the specific papers offer, 
that is, what concrete or specific issues they discuss; the value of the 
approach will emerge from the light shed on that issue.  To take an example 
>from my own field, "An Introduction to Boal's Forum Theater" won't give me 
the clues I need to make me want to attend; "Boal's Approach to Radical 
Democracy in Theater Processes" might ("How Workers Used Forum Theater to 
Take Over Factory" would bring me running--don't I wish!).  So I think a 
public "reading" of Bhaskar could be useful, but only if it's in tandem 
with one or more sessions focusing on particular applications of critical 
realism (or critical realist critiques of other approaches or analyses, 
though again, concrete examples of where the other approach screws up and 
how CR can help are best).  As Engels or somesuch said, "The proof of the 
pudding is in the eating"; so let's cook.

---
Tobin Nellhaus
nellhaus-AT-biddeford.com
"Faith requires us to be materialists without flinching": C.S. Peirce