Looking for suggestions: reality—mind—language—society

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Looking for suggestions: reality—mind—language—society

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1defaults
Dez. 19, 2009, 3:48 pm

Hi—

First off, I'm not very well read at all in western philosophy. I've read Russell's History plus bits and pieces, started a few classics and finished fewer.

I've long been curious about certain things relating to philosophy, language and society but I was never able to grasp the connection between them and to phrase just what it is I'm curious about. Relevant jigsaw pieces that I've accumulated include Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, Bergson's intuition, William James's "On Some Omissions of Introspective Psychology", Gilbert Ryle's The Concept of Mind, Zhuangzi, zen buddhism and the concept of linguistic relativity.

Today I had the needed epiphany: I want to grasp the entire silk road of data that leads from reality to consciousness and then to thought, language and ultimately society—what can be said of its workings, how we use it, how it can be conceptualized, how it transforms and distorts that which passes through it.

Do you have any reading recommendations for working towards such an object?

2elenchus
Bearbeitet: Dez. 20, 2009, 12:18 am

I find the work of Gregory Bateson to be provocative precisely in that it links quite a number of topics you mention. But I'm not sure he takes the angle of approach you're most interested in.

For an introduction to his thinking and interests, Angels Fear: Towards an Epistemology of the Sacred is eminently readable. For a more academic collection of essays on the same topics, I'd recommend Steps to an Ecology of Mind.

Naturally that's merely one entry point into your areas of interest, and equally naturally: it's the one that appeals to me. I'm curious to read suggestions from others.

3defaults
Dez. 20, 2009, 4:45 am

Thanks. I had in fact made a mental note of Bateson while trawling Wikipedia for leads but never got around to reading. I'll fix that.

4Mr.Durick
Dez. 20, 2009, 4:38 pm

Your interest is like the Appalachian Trail. Many people walk parts of it; some few walk the entire length.

I can imagine that Bateson would contribute, otherwise for the whole range I would recommend novelists, first among the Henry James for your interests.

Have fun,

Robert

5defaults
Dez. 21, 2009, 3:40 am

Oh, I didn't pose this question with the expectation of finding authors who cover everything. The most I hope for is clues for useful authors in the various fields along the way (whatever they be) who optionally display a sense of cross-disciplinary movement.

6elenchus
Dez. 21, 2009, 10:56 am

>4 Mr.Durick: Re: the recommendation to Henry James.

James is an author I've respected for a while now, but have not yet read. I saw an adaptation of one of his novels, but that's really not the same. Would you recommend starting anywhere specifically? Either as a good novel in response to the original post, or alternatively as a good intro to James?

7Mr.Durick
Dez. 21, 2009, 5:03 pm

I think this 'silk road' is something of a theme in James to be unearthed from the richness of the story-telling. What you would be reading for is a literary excursus into a mimetic world that derives from what you are looking for (I hope that makes sense). So read any of his novels or shorter works (I don't have much experience of his shorter works, but he preferred them). His later works are reputed to be harder than his early works which could be a guideline. The Golden Bowl from his later works especially appeals to me.

It comes to me, having slept on the question and as I write this, that Indian philosophy might illuminate this 'silk road.'

Robert

8PortiaLong
Dez. 21, 2009, 10:39 pm

On the linguistics aspect...The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker tweaked a few ideas for me in this arena.

9sa_pagan
Dez. 25, 2009, 6:29 am

John Searle definitely, and his Intentionality, The Construction of Social Reality, Mind, Language and Society.

And of course I'd recommend Charles Sanders Peirce.

10defaults
Jan. 3, 2010, 7:49 am

Thanks again! I'm enjoying Bateson's essays, particularly "Form, Substance and Difference", and I'll be looking at the other things mentioned.

I must admit to being a bit scared of Peirce, though. I've gotten the idea that his output is a sprawling and disorganized mountain that scholars are still in the process of sorting out, and there are so many different collections, too.

11elenchus
Jan. 3, 2010, 4:37 pm

I've had a similar impression of Peirce, and my briefest of introductions to his thinking is from secondary sources, such as some of those he influenced. Anyone have suggestions as to where to start?

I've added James's The Golden Bowl to my wishlist, and had forgotten about the Pinker: an author I've meant to follow up on for awhile now.