Comments on: Subjects to the System

By: How Capitalism and Marxism Mix: Economic Determinism « Political Cartel

How Capitalism and Marxism Mix: Economic Determinism « Political Cartel — Sat, 01 May 2010 05:28:10 +0000

[...] human behavior, belief, and society has a very materialistic outlook and is thus very appealing to my particular philosophical doctrine. I’ll [...]

By: Source of Progress « Political Cartel

Source of Progress « Political Cartel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:15:29 +0000

[...] leave a comment » Dick Hebdige in the first chapter of his book Subculture: The Meaning of Style argues that subculture is a subversion to conformity and normalcy. Hebdige explains how dominant groups in society control discourse, ideas, and ultimately mythology/culture/ideology. Incorporating the ideas of several prominent Marxist critics, Hebdige synthesizes the theories of myths and signs, ideology, and hegemony (of discourse) into an entity by which society derives its identity, its values, and its relations; all the while Hebdige maintains a Marxist overtone by implicating the roles of classes within this process-the dominate class obviously plays the most influential role in defining the dominant culture (see Louis Althusser’s process of interpellation). [...]

By: Stephanie O'Brian

Stephanie O'Brian — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:07:48 +0000

haha, thanks for the asterisk there at the bottom Ian. :)

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:43:35 +0000

Apparently I have awesome linking skills. Let's try again: Althusser

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:34:34 +0000

Stephanie is lame.

Althusser is where it’s at.

I would be really interested to hear what you think about the role of the RSA in the formation of society. I guess the RSAs are a little less fun to talk about because the representations if ISA are much more insidious, but it’s something worth discussing, nonetheless.

*My apologies to Stephanie. I really don’t think you’re lame.

By: Andrew W. English

Andrew W. English — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:53:29 +0000

cough http://whatsleftnow.com/cough

we got you covered dr. burt.

By: Dr. Burt

Dr. Burt — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:44:45 +0000

What’s with all the Steve Denney postings. Bring back Stephanie. I miss her.

By: S.C. Denney

S.C. Denney — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:48:32 +0000

Of course I don’t think I’m destined to die on a certain date; but I do think that the way I define life, values, and purpose are determined by the structure that I am born into. In order to really view free will/determinism in its proper sense, you have to divorce the ecclesiastical connotations of select/heathen.

But of course I don’t want to believe it; I really don’t like the notion that my consciousness is like that of paper mache. Obviously, you don’t either. But you can’t fight the subconscious, because you cannot fight what you do recognize.

By: David M. Manes

David M. Manes — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:41:21 +0000

I think we are mostly agreeing (as usual).

I am not saying that you can find absolute truth or beauty. You know that.

But I am saying that we can see truth and beauty. I have used the adjective “true” to describe things that contain truth. I have used the adjective “beautiful” to describe things that contain beauty. And I will continue to use the phrase “free will” to apply to individual choices, even though they are made in the context of institutional influence and imperfect reality.

The concept of free will is present in choice as long as there is a choice. I don’t think you’re willing to fully and absolutely embrace fate, determinism, or predestination, but that is what you would need to do to completely dismiss free will.

By: S.C. Denney

S.C. Denney — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:37:09 +0000

When you find absolute truth and beauty, you let me know.

In the meantime, ponder these questions:

- Does life shape consciousness or consciousness shape life? (materialism v. behaviorism)

- Are there a priori categories? If so, how do we know what are they and what they mean?