Date:          Thu, 2 Jan 1997 13:53:45 GMT-700
Subject:       Re: BHA: WHITHER CRITICAL REALISM?


Hi Ralph, maybe it is not me who should answer our post, i mean you know 
my arguments.  However, let me say a little.

Bhaskar's work is especially timely, empiricism "lies shattered", and 
science itself is on the defensive against skepticism, relativism, 
hyper-subjectivity, and self-doubt.  In these "post-modern" times a 
strong metaphysical realism is important for us to push on (toward making 
the world a little better).  

And, yes i realize that this is not your issue with (or against) 
critical realism.  But it does help us begin to understand what is 
Bhaskar's *contribution* (even in the "absence" of originality).  
Personally, i am not too concerned with what is original in Bhaskar, 
especially as one familarizes herself with issues of philosophy of 
science, the first two books seem quite humble, a type of (needed) 
synthesis of contemproary philosophy of science.  And in his more 
dialectical work, those aquainted with Hegelian and Marxian philosophy my 
be quite confrontable with Dialectical Critical Realism.  But of course, 
Bhaskar seems to bring in more (post-)modern ideas also, for example 
*absence*.

i would suggest the newness in Bhaskar comes as a totality.  For example 
his critique of empiricism in RTS is nothing new, but that it is said all 
together and offers an explicit ontological view which seems quite 
original.  But certainly we would not say the notion of "deepth" 
realism is new.

More specifically i believe that his TMSA is quite original, although 
many others have struggled with similar problems.  It helps address some 
of the materialist problems that we face with metaphors like 
base-superstructure.  Moreover, critical realism very much helps us 
understand Marx (for example), along with many other thinkers who where 
trying to overcome idealism (1900 century) and empiricism (late 2000 
century).

Hence, my answer to what is new in Bhaskar would begin by pointing out we 
must answer this in the actual material conditions which he is 
writing, the intellectual eclipse which he confronts, and the post-
modern consciousness of self-doubt in which we live.  Next we must 
assess his work as a type of totality, its time and place, along 
with its "truth".

But, i would very much be willing to pursue the idea that Bhaskar has 
been very successful in demonstrating that the gains of contemproary 
philosophy of science are quite in phase with the answers that Hegel and 
Marx where on to (as an example).  And it helps demonstrate the 
impoverished philosophical commitments of analytical philosophy and 
relativistic philosophies.

And finally before leaving the issue of originality, Einstein once said 
something like, 'I had only one original idea in my entire lifetime'.  
Originality is not really much of a concern, espeically if we have 
historical materialist (dialectical) explanations for the emergence or 
(dialectical) necessity of the direction consciosness takes. 

Your more interesting questions where the other three questions:
> 
> What do you think critical realism ought to accomplish?  Is there
> some useful purpose to be served by promoting a school of thought?
> What is there that is new and original that this school has to
> offer?  What intellectual results has it produced?  I'm getting a
> bit skeptical.

The first two, and forth question are quite important.  But they are not 
easy, nor do i believe that we would agree on the answers.  Let me offer 
very brief responses.  Beginning with the second question: especially 
Bhaskar pre-1990 was to defend against intellectual skepticism 
and relativism.  The (somewhat humble) task here is to offer a bit of 
intellectual strength to grap onto.  This is actually quite important for 
the education one is likely to receive in a Western (especially U.S.) 
educational system.  As Hans Ehrbar is fond of saying, critical 
realism should be taught in high school.  It is simple, and brillant. 
More importantly it may help alleviate the hypochondria and deep 
"alienation" which afflicts this MTV generation.  And of course 
offering an alternative to the the post-modern relativism and hyper-
reactionary analytical commitments.

Now turning to the forth question, the intellectual results may 
come by way of philosophcial suggests:  that is CR suggests what 
we should look for in our scientific work, and what we should guard 
against.  For example, TMSA, tells that we must investigate structures, 
for they are necessitied for agency.  It warns against reductionism, 
methodological individualism, and structuralism alike.  This issue is 
especially important in economics, for we first must confront the 
neo-classical (and many other) methodological individualist who have 
absented the notion of structure, along with the skepticism of 
post-structualist political economy.  Whereas, the former believe we can 
come to know something about economics by reducing "appearances" to 
"fundamental" behavior (e.g. the prusuit of pleasure and avoidance of 
pain).  While the latter negate universality altogether (at least in 
its most important aspects.

i won't attempt to answer the first question.  But believe it to be 
the most important.  Rather, i would suggest that in *Reclaiming 
Reality* the first and last articles are concerned with such issues.  
Also, in the misty pages of the *Dialectic* there are some brillant 
moments.  Two sections in particular address your first question.  
(a) 2.10, pp. 173-203; with pp. 198-203 as the most relevant.  
(b) 3.11, pp. 299-307.  i would be willing to type these sections in 
(suspecting you do not have your copy of *Dialectic* in hand).

i am not always in agreement with Bhaskar's suggested direction, nor 
does it seem that he is always very sure himself (which we should 
expect with a[n] [ontological] commitment to openness).  But the 
implications themselves are of the utmost important.  For example, CR 
is at least in opition to the hyper-doubt of Hayek, or the "surface" 
response of the New Right etc.

hans d. 


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