Hi David, (Ma),
Have you thought much about agency, philosophically, "the capacity to act, and 'agency' denotes the exercise or manifestation of this capacity" (https://plato.stanford.edu/
Am recalling and appreciating George Alexander MD's thinking about this (family friend, and brilliant psychiatrist, as well as Lacanian psychoanalyst), and how he with language made abstract ideas helpful and relevant to individuals with whom he was in conversation with. There are many folk philosophies that inform otherwise (Quakerism and Yoga, and perhaps some underlying Harbin philosophies too) ... that it's the divine or ego religiously conceived, that shapes people's actions and their ways of being; cultures do this too, where the group seems to inform possible actions of the individual. The idea that we have agency - free will, intentional action, here too, - or choice to decide as individuals is something that western philosophical thinking in particular seems to make possible in very unique and even sophisticated ways.
Psychiatrically, and psychologically, an individual with their own agency (not informed by a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst) might choose actions that lead to flourishing, or well-being, in conversation with someone, or on their own, because they might have engaged the idea of agency. (And perhaps they head to a good psychiatrist if they aren't making choices that lead to flourishing, or because they're making poor choices, agency-wise, leading to a lack of well-being). Language can help - both with the idea that we have agency (as one thinks about this) - and conversation can open possibilities in ideas about how to develop this. The Desiderata - - as a poem of agency? (Am appreciative too of George not giving advice, because reasoning-wise, consciously, amd philosophically, to be able to give good advice may entail being the other persons 'shoes' - which is logically impossible; appreciating that George was both conscious of this, and that he was able to express this. That said, he as an experienced clinician seemed to be able to free up people's agency, in my experience of him and understanding his thinking).
Am appreciating, too, the 'problem solving' Western analytical and philosophical approach too which George took with conversants - and regarding the human problems and issues that emerge with people. It's a very grounded - re realist - way of thinking, and focusing, too, on the symbolic (rather than the mirror) per Lacan's 3 registers. Ah language - and agency. (Lacan had a different reading of Lacan - https://plato.stanford.edu/
What do you think about agency? How have you thought about human's capacity to act - about yours or individuals you know? Am seeking to find some examples re Cuttyhunk or DC for you, for example, to make this personally relevant - and not abstract, - and will let you know if some come to mind. (Acting to find a mate, perhaps?)
Consciousness re agency raises a whole series of other questions - and how to make these personally meaningful and relevant are fascinating questions too :)
Cheers, Scott
4 blog posts in recent years about this:
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Hi David, Ma,
Here's a slightly updated version of my email to you just now:
Have you thought much about agency, philosophically, "the capacity to act, and 'agency' denotes the exercise or manifestation of this capacity" (https://plato.stanford.edu/
Am recalling and appreciating George Alexander MD's thinking about this (family friend, and brilliant psychiatrist, as well as Lacanian psychoanalyst), and how he with language made abstract ideas helpful and relevant to individuals with whom he was in conversation. There are many folk philosophies that inform otherwise (eg Quakerism and Yoga, and perhaps some underlying Harbin philosophies too ... ie that it's the divine, or ego religiously conceived, that shape people's actions and their ways of being); cultures can do this too, where the group's discourse somehow seems to inform possible actions of the individual. The idea that we have agency - free will, intentional action, - or choice to decide what we want to do as individuals is something that western philosophical thinking in particular seems to make possible in very unique and even sophisticated ways.
Psychiatrically, and psychologically, an individual with their own agency (not informed by a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst) might choose actions that lead to flourishing, or well-being, in conversation with someone, or on their own, because they might have engaged the idea of agency (via words). (And perhaps they head to a good psychiatrist if they aren't making choices that lead to flourishing, or because they're making poor choices, agency-wise, - and leading to a lack of well-being). Language can help - both with a) the idea that we have agency (as one thinks about this), and b) that conversation can open possibilities in ideas about how to develop agency. The Desiderata - https://www.desiderata.com/
Am appreciating, too, the 'problem solving,' Western analytical and philosophical approaches too which George took with conversants - and regarding the human problems and issues that emerge with people. It's a very grounded - re realist - way of thinking, and focusing, too, on the symbolic (rather than the mirror register) per Lacan's 3 registers. Ah language - and agency. (George had a different reading of Lacan than - https://plato.stanford.edu/
What do you think about agency? How have you thought about human's capacity to act - about yours or individuals you know, and consciously? Am seeking to find some examples re Cuttyhunk or DC (or Pgh) for you, for example, to make this personally relevant - and not abstract, - and will let you know if some come to mind. (Acting to find a mate, perhaps, David?)
Consciousness re agency raises a whole series of other questions - and how to make these personally meaningful and relevant are fascinating questions too :)
Warm regards, Scott
4 blog posts in recent years about this:
The Allman Brothers Band - Full Concert - 01/05/80 - Capitol Theatre (OFFICIAL)
https://youtu.be/9b1VlW02L8s
https://youtu.be/9b1VlW02L8s
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1:15 PM (9 hours ago)
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No in answer to your question if it was a question.
Love, Ma
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1:19 PM (9 hours ago)
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9:41 PM (36 minutes ago)
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Ma, Alden, Ann,
Ma, I know from his giving a talk at Stanford someone named Raj (Chetty) - https://www.vox.com/the-
I think Raj Chetty receives my big educational project's emails, and also could probably do the math for UBI experiments to distribute a single cryptocurrency to 7.5 billion people, and significantly to alleviate poverty (since I think too he grew up in India, where there is still much poverty, sadly).
Alden, have you seen Beecham House by any chance? :)
Warmly,
Scott
Hello Ann and Ma,
I hope this finds you well. How was your weekend, and how are you both? It's been hot here this weekend in the afternoons, but generally nice otherwise.
How are things going coronavirus tail end wise for you (into phase 3 in Boston and planning for physical school openings there in autumn), - or until a vaccine is found perchance? Is this pandemic mostly of an 'in case of emergency' variety I wonder (eg the threat of planes dropping biological viral agents, hypothetically, and that got too close to reality for comfort)?
Just had a lovely walk around the far side of the massif overlooking Moraga past Indian valley, albeit in not quite cool enough weather.
How was the "Beecham House" Masterpiece Theatre film about the Raj in around 1795 in India, Ma? https://en.m.wikipedia.
Warm regards,
- Scott
- Scott
--
- Scott MacLeod
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