To: <s-acc@yahoogroups.com>

From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>

Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 23:01:58 -0800

Subject: [s-acc] existential being

 

Hi

People who've engaged this on-list dialogue for a time know that every once in a while I get in a difficult place and don't know how to proceed: It's a kind of "stress overload," one might say. For instance last fall I closed the list down for three days, as things got to be "too much."

Right now I experience the stress of this difficult interface with PsySR: They have "accepted our proposal with 'edits'" and the edits cut to the core of the role dynamics expected for successful implementation of the NSR project. So I finally looked at myself and decided it was time to "rage in the wilds" (William Blake's coping style).

Last night I attended a book signing by Hubert Dreyfus - a leading existentialist philosopher - and a student of his [Sean Kelly] who now teaches philosophy at Harvard. The book was "A Shining Light" and it was about realization of existential being. Much of the discussion went to the matter of how Helen felt about her "Trojan lived experience," based on a reading of Homer's Odyssey. I don't do psychiatry because I think the right business is "existential being," not "acting normal," so I went to hear one of the lead advocates of that philosophical perspective. :-)

I did get in a question about Vico, which made sense to Dreyfus (I believe he recognized me from times past, too). He said in effect his path hadn't yet gotten him there, but it looked like he was heading that way. He also said - as he reflected on the matter - that Descartes' feelings (my paraphrase) seemed to be the focal point of engagement. Thus, "Why did 'social science' provide him such a feeling of gratitude?" I felt Prof. Dreyfus heard me - somthing I have not felt when discussing this topic with the present leadership of PsySR.

I'm trying to pick up my feelings and find a positive path forward, and one that takes into account major concerns expressed here. But that's what I have to say for today.

 

Best

Andrew

One and one is two
Two and two is four
Four and four is .. too many

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