Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 12:32:26 -0600 (MDT)
From: Hans Ehrbar <ehrbar-AT-econ.utah.edu>
Subject: BHA: me again -- same topic



Hello all,

I am still mulling over a response to Viren's excellent
questions, but before I can email you some more detailed
arguments I'd like to briefly register that I don't quite
agree with Ruth's formulation.  For Marx, at least,
societies can also be bearers of *final* causality.  The
social imperative to accumulate capital is a purpose which
does not come from individuals but from the social structure
itself.  And I don't see Bhaskar saying anything limiting
like: societies cannot be efficient or cannot be final
causes.  If I remember right, he argues along the lines: we
should not be confused by the fact that societies only exist
in their effects, societies are nevertheless real (i.e.,
causal bearers).

Talk to you later,

Hans G. Ehrbar


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