Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 11:34:43 -0500 From: iversteg <iversteg-AT-temple.edu> Subject: BHA: cr and social science Dear Ruth and all, It seems Bhaskar is looking for a demarcational point between the natural and social sciences and he fixes on the closed-open system aspect. Apart from being arbitrary as you say, it could also undermine his naturalism. A 'closed' system might inflate the natural sciences too much (creating more gulf between them), in spite of the fact that he denies that prediction is an aspect of any true science. And then what does the status of dynamic systems theory (systems 'far from equilibrium') do to this picture? These systems were after all first used in physics. It is worthwhile referring to Maurice Mandelbaum's treatment of the subject in _Purpose and Necessity in Social Theory_ (1987). He calls natural science phenomena applicable to any matter (or people) at all times and a social science phenomena applicable within a cultural system. This provides the demarcational point between psychology and sociology or anthropology. Something like 'cross-cultural psychology,' far from being a warring battle ground for the degree of nature or nurture in an experimental depth test given to native Africans (or whomever), it is simply the study of native psychological abilities in cross-cultural settings. Thus it becomes a causal study of the interaction of native faculties and the ecological pressures that tune these faculties. This reminds me of the discussion of psychology made by the philosopher from Hawai'i (I hope people will know who I am absent-mindedly referring to) based on Bhaskar's work. He called psychology a social science and said that only neuro-science was a natural science. Perhaps Bhaskar's thinking on this closed-open system thinking colored his thinking? Since I don't have PON before me, I look forward to others' closer readings. Ian Ian Verstegen Department of Art History Temple University 8th Floor Ritter Hall Annex Philadelphia, PA 19122 tel: (215) 204-7837 fax: (215) 204-6951 http://astro.temple.edu/~iversteg --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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