Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 16:30:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: LH Engelskirchen <lhengels-AT-igc.apc.org>
Subject: Re:  BHA: Re: Do Groups Mean


SRHE 165:  "In considering the hermeneutical motivation for the 
doctrine of social foundations, the meaning of an act (or utterance) 
must be distinguished from the agent's intention in performing it.  
Again both are important.  Although the immediate intentions of agents 
or meanings of actions cannot normally be misdescribed for mutual 
understanding or functioning, well-oiled language games to be 
possible, both intentions and meanings may be opaque to agents 
occasionally, at the level of everyday interaction and systematically, 
at the level of the underlying reasons for and meanings of their 
behaviour.  The meaning of an action is a social fact which, to the 
extent that the action is intentional under that description, is 
utilised by the actor in the production of her performance.  But the 
reason why the agent performs the act is a fact about the person which 
cannot be read off or deduced from its social meaning.  The question 
'why is X exchanging rings with Y?' is not exclusively or exhaustively 
answered by reference to the fact that this is part of the ceremony 
(act) of getting married."

Howard


Howard Engelskirchen
Western State University

	"What is there just now you lack"  Hakuin


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