File spoon-archives/marxism-thaxis.archive/marxism-thaxis_1998/marxism-thaxis.9802, message 316


Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 19:44:36 -0500
From: Yoshie Furuhashi <Furuhashi.1-AT-osu.edu>
Subject: Re: M-TH: straw men, etc


Hi Mark,

>Yoshie, you are right, but just one thing:
>
>Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
>
>> I don't share Mark's apocalyptic conclusion,
>
>Why don't you share it?

In natural sciences, a correct explanation of a mechanism that causes X
will normally allow scientists to experimentally produce X, provided that
they can control an experimental environment in such a way that the
mechanism can do its work without countervailing tendencies from other
factors.

On the other hand, in anything that concerns what's human and social, a
correct explanation does not necessarily allow us to make a correct
prediction, because we can't produce and control our environment in such a
way that the mechanism in question will be allowed to do its work without
countervailing tendencies.

Maybe you don't subscribe to this division between natural and social
sciences, but I think that this is a useful distinction. That is why I am
cautious about making predictions, even though I find persuasive your
explanation of how industrial capitalism's reliance on fossil fuels must
become a seed of crisis in the near future.

Yoshie




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