Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 23:58:38 +0100 From: Colin Wight <Colin.Wight-AT-aber.ac.uk> Subject: Re: BHA: Reality, existence Such is the Bhaskar list, that where I once disagree with Louis and agree with Michael I now find myself disagreeing with Michael and agreeing with Louis. I seem to remember some time in the past that michael argued that santa did exist ( i could be wrong about this), hence when Louis used santa as an example I expected Michael to reply. I also seem to remember a nice piece in journal somewhere that had the brill title: 'Yes there Really is no Santa Claus' Michael asks: >Apropos of Louis's examples and final comments: can we say >that ideological phenomena exist in some sense? are they real in >some sense? Well, of course, ideological phenomena certainly exist in the minds of the entity under their spell, but as Michael himself points out this is an 'imaginary relation'. There is (as far as we can tell) no Santa Claus (sorry folks). However, because some people do believe in him material effects accrue (I have to drink b***** sherry (which i hate) and eat a carrot and mince pie every Xmas eve). Santa exists in the mind of my 6 year old but isn't real in the sense that Louis intends. Much of my 6 year old existence is like this - he thinks the power rangers guard the Earth (cute or what?). The leaving of milk/sherry is a consequence of the belief and there is nothing problematic about this. But some mug other than Santa has to drink it. (i hate milk as well BTW) Beliefs in Santa are real - which I am sure Louis accepts - but Santa (as far as we can tell does not). A classic example of the transitive intransitive/distinction I would have thought. Thanks, > ============================================ Dr. Colin Wight Department of International Politics University of Wales, Aberystwyth Wales SY23 3DA Tel: (01970) 621769 --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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