Date: 24 May 1996 18:55:18 EST
Subject: SERIOUS SOKAL DISCUSSION?
To: marxism2-AT-jefferson.village.Virginia.EDU



          For the most part, the discussion over Alan Sokal's hoax has been
          very poor.  This isn't a criticis of Sokal --  for  the record, I
          suuported publication of  the piece, not that this  was decisive,
          when  he  offered  it  to  LINGUA FRANCA  (I  mean,  the  article
          revealing that he had hoaxed ST).  But the bulk of the commentary
          that followed is,  in  a word, ignorant.  And  even some  of  the
          discussion on this list has been disappointing.  People who  have
          no real knowledge of the work of Aronowitz or Ross are full of  .
          . . opinions.  Sigh.
               Well, I am supposed to write a short piece for LINGUA FRANCA
          on  the discussion; and  while  having  my  own thoughts  on  the
          affair, it would be great to think that there are folks  on  this
          list who  have been kkeeping silent, sharing my distaste for  the
          nonsense.  If so, please speak up. The existence of  the physical
          world is not, in  any serious way,  at issue in  this debate.  If
          you  grasp  that,  by  all  means, give  me  the benefit of  your
          thoughts on the real issues here.  Thanks.



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