Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 14:50:06 -0400
Subject: Re: Althusser - Worthwhile? 


I haven't read that particular book but I have been steeped in Althusserian
theories and ideas as of late.  I am an anthropology student with a critical
interest in political economy.  I have found Althusser to be both
envigorating and absolutely frustrating at the same time.  The political
implications of his work can be worrisome at times, i.e. the idea of humans
as supports of structure: trager.  Reducing man to an abstract concept makes
killing man that much easier, but I also see some dangers in ideological
humanism especially the possibility of mis-perceiving provlems and thus
mis-prescribing a cure.  so I think His ideas of developing a science that is
free of ideology is very much worth the time to consider.  In the US people
are constantly bickering over ideologies as  opposed to discovering the
structural mechanisms which underlay our problems.  having said that it is
still highly problematic.

John Westerman


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