From: Andrew Phelps <phelps@cwnet.com>
To: RadPsyNet-Members@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat Jul 16 20:24 -0700
Subject: Re: [RadPsyNet-Members] Mass psychosis in the US
Hi
Ilo, I don't agree with this analysis.
I think it's OK for reporting on the phenomenology but it's based on the illusion that our social science is at a scientific (rather than pre-scientific) level.
Descartes derived the "seek truth from facts" inductive reasoning approach from Bacon. Bacon said there are four types of illusions ('idols') characteristic of bad thinking regarding the inductive reasoning process.
Descartes' most obvious failure in this regard is his view that "men are objective, women are subjective." That falls within "idols of the nation" - what we might term a "sexist" attitude.
The article from
al-jazeera here obliges the prevailing notion that our social science (and in particular the aspect related to the 'medical model' in psychiatry) is "scientific." That falls under Bacon's category of "idols of the theatre."Obviously our task is to work towards overcoming the present "alchemy" towards something more like "chemistry" (speaking by analogy). There is much activity in that regard. We need to engage that process. I myself tried to do a presentation on that at the APA Toronto 2003, where Ken Gergen was to be the moderator. But that did not meet the standards of the program committee.
<sigh!>
Andrew Phelps
Ph.D., mathematics (which DOES have a scientific character)
On Sat Jul 16 20:00 GMT, Ilo sent:
HERE Mass psychosis in the US How Big Pharma got Americans hooked on anti psychotic drugs (from al-jazeera English)