Subject: Re: Thesis...
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 23:30:44 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)


On 28 Sep 2000 00:41:13 -0000 Perry O'Brien <drugstore_taoboy-AT-disinfo.net> 
wrote:

> First, I want to formulate an arguement stating that all humans, regardless 
of any sociopolitical, psychological, or genetic factors, have the innate 
ability to engage in a sort of metacognition, where they become keenly aware of 
their own mental workings and faculties.

This would entail establishing a fairly privileged position regarding what is 
and what is not "metacognition." In other words, what counts as reflection and 
what doesn't. This is hotly disputed - what is genius to some is yesterday's 
last page story for another. Establishing *universals* in metacognition is even 
more difficult. One thinker that you might want to look at is Jurgen Habermas - 
particularly his work on communication and social development. Habermas defends 
a strong conception of universality (see The Theory of Communicative Action or 
Communication and the Evolution of Society). Seyla Benhabib (Situating the 
Self) is one of his best critics - and her essay on Gilligan and Kohlberg is 
certainly worth considering if you get into Habermas. Habermas incorporates 
both theories of cognitive development (Piaget and Kohlberg) and theories of 
justice (John Rawls) - so that might be a good start, although he won't go near 
bio-feedback).

> Secondly, I want to suggest a number of ideas and techniques on how exactly 
such a feat is possible (ie meditation, bio-feedback, self-analysis, 
metaproramming, etc...). Needless to say, this thesis statement carries with it 
a number of philisophical and psychological dillemmas which I intend to 
confront, but I feel that I will be best equipped to do so after communicating 
with experts in both fields, and  after doing much, much more research...

You've cast a fairly big net. Tackling both psychology and philosophy will 
likely be impossible. Not that you should only pick one, but your thesis will 
need to be more focused. From the sounds of it, I suspect you might be 
interested in Maslow's transpersonalism. Maslow is a nice humanist kind of guy 
who establishes a hierarchy of cognitive / material needs. Not my cup of tea, 
but it sounds similar to what you're talking about.

If you want to write a truly philosophical paper, then you'll need to deal with 
Kant and Fichte, for starters. Both are essential thinkers for purposes of 
tracing notions of subjectivity - through to Hegel (at least) and Marx followed 
by Nietzsche. I'd also recommend Freud, Durkheim and Weber if you take this 
approach. That would take you as far as 1930, but contemporary appropriations 
of the above shouldn't be hard to find. I should also mention that each of 
these thinkers will generate problems for your thesis.

ken