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Philosophy of Mind by David Dennen
Behavior and Philosophy, 2022
Edgar A. Singer Jr. is largely forgotten. Yet in the early twentieth century he was one of the mo... more Edgar A. Singer Jr. is largely forgotten. Yet in the early twentieth century he was one of the most persistent proponents for a theory of "mind as behavior." This essay explores Singer's theory of mind as a form of experimentally-definable behavior. This interpretation of mind is derived from Singer's "philosophy of experiment," which delimits the forms of questions that can have meaningful answers. Valid questions, according to Singer's theory, must appeal to phenomena that are public in some sense and which have verifiable effects on our "mechanical images" of nature (which is not to say that such phenomena are themselves solely mechanical). From this perspective, Singer is able to give behavioral criteria for attributing "mind" to organisms and for such "mental faculties" as purpose, sensation, consciousness, and thought. It might be wondered how Singer's experimental concept of mind compares with B. F. Skinner's better-known concept of private events. Although there are difficulties involved in the interpretation of each, it would seem that Singer and Skinner are largely in agreement, although they emphasize different factors in the behavioral interpretation of mind.
Jordan Peterson: Critical Responses, 2022
video version: https://youtu.be/AMtPrnz762k
video version: https://youtu.be/98qieIfGtlM
Video version: https://youtu.be/aADoVaBSX3A
video version: https://youtu.be/HoqT5jOKmHQ
Moral Philosophy by David Dennen
Video version: https://youtu.be/JMZ1ppwIrgg Discusses the progressive ethics of Edgar A. Singer,... more Video version: https://youtu.be/JMZ1ppwIrgg
Discusses the progressive ethics of Edgar A. Singer, Jr.
Kate Manne’s recent book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny focuses on a topic not often addressed ... more Kate Manne’s recent book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny focuses on a topic not often addressed by philosophers: misogyny—and more broadly, patriarchy. In the book Manne describes patriarchy as ‘morally objectionable’ and invites her readers to either ‘draw the same conclusion’ or ‘find reasons on which to base a potentially fruitful disagreement’. This essay considers the arguments according to which patriarchy has been judged immoral by Manne and others. Feminist philosophers have commonly relied on one of two philosophical perspectives to argue against patriarchy: contractarianism and what I call distortionism. I examine both perspectives as they appear in Manne’s writings and also in the writings of Susan Dimock and Carol Gilligan. Both perspectives turn out to have significant weaknesses that undercut their ability to inform our judgment about the moral status of patriarchy. Although it seems reasonable to intuit that patriarchy is immoral, contra Manne we are not yet in a position to philosophically support this intuition.
On Morse Peckham by David Dennen
Several years ago I purchased a used copy of Morse Peckham’s Beyond the Tragic Vision (George Bra... more Several years ago I purchased a used copy of Morse Peckham’s Beyond the Tragic Vision (George Braziller, 1962). The book contains rather unusual marginalia, written in pencil, from a previous owner whose name is not recorded. I have always been intrigued by these particular marginalia. However, they are written in a strange writing style which I was unable to easily decipher (perhaps some form of shorthand, though it does not match any examples of shorthands I have found online). One day I decided to have a go at deciphering it.
The Romanticist and aesthetic theorist Morse Peckham was not normally one to get involved in admi... more The Romanticist and aesthetic theorist Morse Peckham was not normally one to get involved in administrative affairs. There were, however, two periods of his life in which he got drawn into such activities. The first occurred in the early 1950s, when he was asked to oversee a corporation–university partnership between Bell Telephone and the University of Pennsylvania. This program was intended to develop Bell’s corporate leadership by exposing managers to humanistic education. The second occurred in the early 1970s, when Peckham was asked to take on the role of English department chair at the University of South Carolina. He responded to this by circulating a list of (apparently radical) reforms he would have liked to implement. Although both of these administrative involvements ended more or less in failure, they are of interest for at least two reasons. First, they inspired incisive commentary by Peckham on the nature of education and on university–business relations. Second, they bring into focus the difficulties faced by individuals in transforming large, modern organizations.
Philosophy of Science by David Dennen
The philosopher Thomas Nagel has recently criticized ‘materialist neo-Darwinism’ as implausible a... more The philosopher Thomas Nagel has recently criticized ‘materialist neo-Darwinism’ as implausible and insufficient as an explanation of life and mind. He argues that ‘no viable
account’ of how something as complex as a living, reproducing organism could have arisen by physical means alone from a ‘dead environment’ is available. While not dismissing entirely the issue of ‘viability’, I position the recent work of Terrence Deacon as a potential answer to Nagel’s critique. Deacon’s work on the natural, physical origin of life and mind shows how a coherent physicalist explanation of these phenomena can be constructed. Certain implications of this, including the question of whether such an explanation can satisfy our concerns about the purpose and value of existence, are considered in the conclusion.
Cultural History by David Dennen
Ralph Ellison consistently relied on a small set of terms in order to guide his writing practice ... more Ralph Ellison consistently relied on a small set of terms in order to guide his writing practice and his interpretation of literature, history, and society. Following Kenneth Burke, an acquaintance of Ellison, I call this his terministic screen. Perhaps the most important elements of Ellison’s terministic screen are consciousness–conscience and purpose–passion–perception. The first set of terms represents what he saw as our democratic obligations: the pursuit of a progressively clearer consciousness of democratic ideals and a more refined conscientiousness in pursuing these ideals. The second set of terms provided a narrative framework for showing how consciousness and conscience are attained or evaded. This essay analyzes the intellectual history of these terms and how they function in Ellison’s essays and novels. Special attention is given to Ellison’s unfinished second novel.
Behavior and Philosophy, 2022
Edgar A. Singer Jr. is largely forgotten. Yet in the early twentieth century he was one of the mo... more Edgar A. Singer Jr. is largely forgotten. Yet in the early twentieth century he was one of the most persistent proponents for a theory of "mind as behavior." This essay explores Singer's theory of mind as a form of experimentally-definable behavior. This interpretation of mind is derived from Singer's "philosophy of experiment," which delimits the forms of questions that can have meaningful answers. Valid questions, according to Singer's theory, must appeal to phenomena that are public in some sense and which have verifiable effects on our "mechanical images" of nature (which is not to say that such phenomena are themselves solely mechanical). From this perspective, Singer is able to give behavioral criteria for attributing "mind" to organisms and for such "mental faculties" as purpose, sensation, consciousness, and thought. It might be wondered how Singer's experimental concept of mind compares with B. F. Skinner's better-known concept of private events. Although there are difficulties involved in the interpretation of each, it would seem that Singer and Skinner are largely in agreement, although they emphasize different factors in the behavioral interpretation of mind.
Jordan Peterson: Critical Responses, 2022
video version: https://youtu.be/AMtPrnz762k
video version: https://youtu.be/98qieIfGtlM
Video version: https://youtu.be/aADoVaBSX3A
video version: https://youtu.be/HoqT5jOKmHQ
Video version: https://youtu.be/JMZ1ppwIrgg Discusses the progressive ethics of Edgar A. Singer,... more Video version: https://youtu.be/JMZ1ppwIrgg
Discusses the progressive ethics of Edgar A. Singer, Jr.
Kate Manne’s recent book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny focuses on a topic not often addressed ... more Kate Manne’s recent book Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny focuses on a topic not often addressed by philosophers: misogyny—and more broadly, patriarchy. In the book Manne describes patriarchy as ‘morally objectionable’ and invites her readers to either ‘draw the same conclusion’ or ‘find reasons on which to base a potentially fruitful disagreement’. This essay considers the arguments according to which patriarchy has been judged immoral by Manne and others. Feminist philosophers have commonly relied on one of two philosophical perspectives to argue against patriarchy: contractarianism and what I call distortionism. I examine both perspectives as they appear in Manne’s writings and also in the writings of Susan Dimock and Carol Gilligan. Both perspectives turn out to have significant weaknesses that undercut their ability to inform our judgment about the moral status of patriarchy. Although it seems reasonable to intuit that patriarchy is immoral, contra Manne we are not yet in a position to philosophically support this intuition.
Several years ago I purchased a used copy of Morse Peckham’s Beyond the Tragic Vision (George Bra... more Several years ago I purchased a used copy of Morse Peckham’s Beyond the Tragic Vision (George Braziller, 1962). The book contains rather unusual marginalia, written in pencil, from a previous owner whose name is not recorded. I have always been intrigued by these particular marginalia. However, they are written in a strange writing style which I was unable to easily decipher (perhaps some form of shorthand, though it does not match any examples of shorthands I have found online). One day I decided to have a go at deciphering it.
The Romanticist and aesthetic theorist Morse Peckham was not normally one to get involved in admi... more The Romanticist and aesthetic theorist Morse Peckham was not normally one to get involved in administrative affairs. There were, however, two periods of his life in which he got drawn into such activities. The first occurred in the early 1950s, when he was asked to oversee a corporation–university partnership between Bell Telephone and the University of Pennsylvania. This program was intended to develop Bell’s corporate leadership by exposing managers to humanistic education. The second occurred in the early 1970s, when Peckham was asked to take on the role of English department chair at the University of South Carolina. He responded to this by circulating a list of (apparently radical) reforms he would have liked to implement. Although both of these administrative involvements ended more or less in failure, they are of interest for at least two reasons. First, they inspired incisive commentary by Peckham on the nature of education and on university–business relations. Second, they bring into focus the difficulties faced by individuals in transforming large, modern organizations.
The philosopher Thomas Nagel has recently criticized ‘materialist neo-Darwinism’ as implausible a... more The philosopher Thomas Nagel has recently criticized ‘materialist neo-Darwinism’ as implausible and insufficient as an explanation of life and mind. He argues that ‘no viable
account’ of how something as complex as a living, reproducing organism could have arisen by physical means alone from a ‘dead environment’ is available. While not dismissing entirely the issue of ‘viability’, I position the recent work of Terrence Deacon as a potential answer to Nagel’s critique. Deacon’s work on the natural, physical origin of life and mind shows how a coherent physicalist explanation of these phenomena can be constructed. Certain implications of this, including the question of whether such an explanation can satisfy our concerns about the purpose and value of existence, are considered in the conclusion.
Ralph Ellison consistently relied on a small set of terms in order to guide his writing practice ... more Ralph Ellison consistently relied on a small set of terms in order to guide his writing practice and his interpretation of literature, history, and society. Following Kenneth Burke, an acquaintance of Ellison, I call this his terministic screen. Perhaps the most important elements of Ellison’s terministic screen are consciousness–conscience and purpose–passion–perception. The first set of terms represents what he saw as our democratic obligations: the pursuit of a progressively clearer consciousness of democratic ideals and a more refined conscientiousness in pursuing these ideals. The second set of terms provided a narrative framework for showing how consciousness and conscience are attained or evaded. This essay analyzes the intellectual history of these terms and how they function in Ellison’s essays and novels. Special attention is given to Ellison’s unfinished second novel.
Dreaming, 2021
Novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston experienced a recurrent dream throughout her life,... more Novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston experienced a recurrent dream throughout her life, beginning in childhood. The dream consisted of about twelve "scenes" which she understood as prophesying important moments of her life. In this article I consider the origin of the dream, its function in her life, the apparent relation of the dream contents to her waking life, and alternate versions of the important final scene of the dream. Hurston's dream likely originated out of the tension between the young Hurston's high intelligence, imaginativeness, and ambition, on the one hand, and the highly restrictive environment in which she lived, on the other. The dream seems to have functioned as a personal mythical narrative, which gave an overall sense of value and heroic purpose to Hurston's life.
American Studies Journal, 2019
One person’s prophet has always been another’s crackpot. Nowhere is this more obvious currently t... more One person’s prophet has always been another’s crackpot. Nowhere is this more obvious currently than with psychology professor turned public intellectual Jordan B. Peterson. Peterson has attained a large following online and is esteemed by centrist members of the American media. Yet few intellectuals are currently so reviled by younger leftists. This article argues for some conceptual and cultural-historical clarification of Peterson’s work. I suggest that Peterson and some (not all) of his leftist critics are actually on the same side of an effort to preserve the open-access order (the basic political-economic organization of the Western democracies). However, they focus on different problems endemic to such orders. While his critics focus on power imbalances and material inequalities, Peterson is a manifestation of the need to manage spiritual crisis while at the same time maintaining relative openness of access to political and economic institutions. Recurrent spiritual crisis, I argue, inheres in open-access orders. Because these orders depend on impersonality and value relativism, they provide no spiritual grounding for individuals. In open-access societies, spiritual crises get temporarily resolved by the development of ‘secular theodicies,’ modes of making sense of suffering in a world in which God is dead. Peterson is a purveyor of a secular theodicy, the contours and context of which are shown through consideration of Peterson’s writings and online videos.
Thomas Carlyle’s Sartor Resartus (1833–34) explores a fundamental problem of the modern world and... more Thomas Carlyle’s Sartor Resartus (1833–34) explores a fundamental problem of the modern world and models a solution to that problem. The problem is one of adapting to an "anomic" (normless) environment and the sufferings that result from hindrances to successful adaptation. The solution it models is one of "revolutionary biodicy." This way of resolving individual suffering occurs when society does not offer a life-pattern suitable for the sovereign, individualized self. A new pattern must then be invented. Sartor, as this essay will show, explores the psychology of this process. But it also provides something of a cultural history of this situation, with special emphasis on the figures of Goethe and Lord Byron. Sartor, then, provides a way of understanding modernity from a combined psychological and cultural-historical perspective.
Ravenshaw Journal of Literary and Cultural Studies (vol. 3), 2013
The Odishan: A Magazine on Culture of Odisha (vol. 1, no. 2), 2012
Asian Music (vol. 41, no. 2), 2010
Ethnomusicology, Sep 17, 2011
... Debashish Bhattacharya (b. 1963) provides a case in point. ... The liner notes mention only t... more ... Debashish Bhattacharya (b. 1963) provides a case in point. ... The liner notes mention only that the rāga expresses “peace, ecstasy and joy.” Interestingly, Basant Mukhari, as Deepak Raja (2010) has pointed out, seems to be a Hindustani adaptation of the Karnatak rāga ...