File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_1998/bhaskar.9806, message 15


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 


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