File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_2002/bhaskar.0202, message 126


Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 09:29:26 -0500
From: Richard Moodey <moodey001-AT-mail1.gannon.edu>
Subject: Re: BHA: Agency chez Bhaskar



Hi listers,

One of my problems with "agency" is that it seems to be an example of the 
bias in English towards making more abstract nouns out of less abstract 
nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and then (often) attributing causal powers to 
these abstractions.  A second problem I have with "agency" is that it seems 
to have the opposite connotation of at least one of the standard meanings 
of "agent," which is someone who acts for someone else, as in "insurance 
agent" or "secret agent."  In our pomo world, "agency" seems to connote  or 
denote  the capacity to act autonomously.

 From reading the comments in this thread, it does not seem that Archer and 
Bhaskar merely stipulate different nominal definitions of agency.  They 
have the right, of course, to tell us how they are using words.  But I 
think they intend more than nominal definitions.  For me,  "agency" is not 
a good theoretical term, for which a valid real or explanatory definition 
is possible. (I do not think it is a good word to refer to generative 
mechanisms.)  "Agent," however, especially in the way Voegelin contrasts it 
with "representative," is a good theoretical term.  Collectivities act 
through agents and representatives.  Our military forces in Afghanistan are 
agents of the United States  Dubya (whether we like it or not) represents us.

In saying this, I do not mean to be contentious, nor to presume to be 
skilled at interpreting Archer and Bhaskar.  I am quite willing to read 
what people write about agency, or to engage in discussions in which the 
term is used.  But I expect people to mean different things by it, and have 
found this expectation met in most discussions.

Regards,

Dick Moodey



     --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005