Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 21:49:51 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Striphas <striphas-AT-email.unc.edu> Subject: Re: More Pro-Sokal This really is disappointing. I am very frustrated to see ultimatums posted on a list having to do with free thought and expression. TED On Sat, 1 Jun 1996, D Hugh-Jones wrote: > On Fri, 31 May 1996, Dan Schubert wrote: > > > > > i'm just finding out about this sokal essay, and haven't yet had > > the time to read it. i've only been able to read what's been posted here > > in the last few days. what surprises me at the gut level, however, is > > that there has been no questioning of the ethics of submitting an essay > > desinged to dupe. whatever the postmodern critique of science might be, > > it is not out to dupe science or scientists. the critiques that i've > > read have always been either cordial or sincere (though not necessarily > > both). sokal's submission seems to be neither. > > > > dan > > > > Well you really do have a great sense of humour don't you? Sokal > was taking the piss out of the fact that most poststructuralist theory > is, without wishing to essentialize a dynamic and contested discursive > moment, a load of wank. He comes in a long and honourable line of amateur > fraudsters who perform the useful task of exposing the pretentiousness of > their betters. And IMHFO, just to add my two penn'orth, he's right - what > passes for theory in academic circles is the intellectual equivalent of > bubble gum, churned out solely in order to keep the otherwise useless in > work. > > I mean Foucault was fairly alright and some of the stuff on this list is > pretty ridiculous. Take a look at Deleuze and Guattari or better still > pound your way through Anti-Oedipus. It's a fucking disgrace to the species. > > In case anyone disagrees, I challenge them to email me personally with an > interpretation in simple words of a poststructuralist theory of their choice. > I honestly believe that it will either be patently stupid, patently > obvious, or patent nonsense. > > And Derrida and that lot? They're all twats too. > > Cheers. > > Dave Hugh-Jones > A Rush and a Push and the Land is ours > dash2-AT-cam.ac.uk > > > ------------------
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