Scott and dialectics

[Steve Chilton]

On Fri, 8 Aug 1997 MSalter1@aol.com wrote:

> MICHAEL Well, and following Adorno, I have learned to be very suspicious of
> attempts to settle substantive issues by definitional means, most of all in
> the area of dialectics. Adorno is spot on when he (following Hegel's prewface
> to the PofS) insists that step by step phenomenological "demonstration" from
> the bottom up must precede real definition; and that top-down
> general/abstract definitions are as much part of the problem as a solution.
> 
> Cheers
> Michael

Alas, Michael, I see the relationship between phenomenological
demonstrations and definitions/theory as dialectical and am
unwilling to give priority to either. But perhaps in a practical
sense it is right that I as an academic be especially cognizant
of the former since I get (and give) so much of the latter! 

Best,
Steve

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| Stephen Chilton, Associate Professor, Dept of Pol Science |
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