From: "Hans Despain" <DESPAIN-AT-econ.sbs.utah.edu>
Date:          Mon, 26 Jun 1995 13:15:46 GMT-700
Subject:       Re: Ontology and Realism


Chris B., I glad that my post made some sense, I would very much 
like to pursue this further.  However, I am quite short on time these 
days so ask for your patience in my responses.  I think that we have 
established that (for at least Marxism) ontology is quite important.  
The problem here, to offer some direction, is that empiricism 
suggests that no universals exists, our runs into an infinite 
regress problem for "grounding" or "justifing" them.  Thus, it will be 
with (Kantian) transcendental argument that we can argue for the 
existence of universal concepts.  Dialectics will be a way to 
organize our categories in an attempt to ground universals "non-
Metaphysical."

Chris S., thoughtful comments on the issue of ontology, which I think 
are in agreement with mine.  If he believed I somehow over stated my 
position on ontological issues, I am sure I did.  Thus, his post is 
accepted as further clairification on the role of "internal 
relations."  The issue here, is that such issues should be made 
(self-)conscious.

Thus, I will repeat that what is at stake in a discussion of 
dialectics is ontology, transcendental (retroduction), and 
dialectical logic.  I look forward to further discussion and will 
post an argument for (why an economist should concern herself with) 
ontological issues (or a realist approach to knowledge).  I will do 
this by way of a (Bhaskarian) immanent critique of both analytical 
and neo-Marxian approaches, to argue for a "systematic" transcendetal 
realism (namely, Bhaskar's Critical Realism).

The point being that once we can establish that ontology is important 
(and deduction and induction lacking as "grounds") we must move on to 
retroduction or transcendental argument, and in turn to "systematic" 
(presentational) dialectics.  My argument intends to suggest that 
this is in fact a very productive way, to not only read Marx, but to 
approach science.

Hans Despain
University of Utah
despain-AT-econ.sbs.utah.edu


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