Fwd: A Sociometric Revolution

[Edward Schreiber]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Edward Schreiber <edwschreiber at earthlink.net>
> Date: January 21, 2008 11:25:31 AM EST
> To: "Adam Blatner" <adam at blatner.com>
> Subject: Re: A Sociometric Revolution
>
>
> Sorry Adam but I have to comment.
> I find your comment "painfully reductionistic" to be painfully  
> reductionistic for me.
> To suggest that Moreno's understanding of human society (who will  
> survive) and his writing about sociatric forces
> manifesting in sociometry - to be painfully reductionistic is to  
> miss the pure genius of Moreno.  His brilliance is the
> utter simplicity of what is so hard to see.  I am very clear that  
> JL Moreno was not only a psychiatrist, but to be honest,
> a kind of modern day profit who saw things, named them, created  
> tools to heal them, and left the whole thing for those who follow.
>
> Although I find your suggestions for action reasonable, I don't  
> take well to demeaning Moreno as "painfully reductionistic".  I see  
> it the exact
> opposite:  painfully awake.
>
> Ed
>
>
>
> On Jan 21, 2008, at 11:18 AM, Adam Blatner wrote:
>
>> That there are power gradients in our society, and even  
>> oppression, is not a thesis I would dispute. That these gradients  
>> can begin to be categorized as the "sociodynamic effect" is, to  
>> me, painfully reductionistic, akin to saying, "Aha! I have  
>> determined the Van Gogh's paintings are in color! Wow! Color is  
>> the key. Now if we can just figure out color, we'll understand his  
>> art!"
>>
>>        Also, that there are major challenges that should not be  
>> ignored or devalued is again not disputed. That it follows that  
>> our concepts of sociatry and its related methods have much to  
>> contribute to the solution of these challenges has not yet been  
>> established. It is possible that our tools are as yet still  
>> immature, insufficiently generalized.
>>
>>       There are periods in the history of science in which  
>> immature technology is insufficent: For example, around 1870-1970  
>> the emerging science of inoculation against infectious disease was  
>> still too new and that this technology often was ineffective or  
>> plagued by side effects, not recognizing impurities or knowing how  
>> to eliminate them, etc. (Indeed, after 20 years, we still haven't  
>> figured out how to get around the devious and clever ways certain  
>> viruses evade the creation of an effective inoculation.)
>>
>>        So, I await some ideas and technologies that can be clearly  
>> described---not just vaguely hoped for. I wish I were clever  
>> enough to come up with some, but at this point, not yet.
>>        Well, there are a few components that I've been working on,  
>> such as--
>> -- promoting the teaching of practical psychology in the core  
>> curriculum beginning in middle school
>> -- using role theory as a user-friendly language for this
>> -- using experiential methods such as role playing, etc., as  
>> pedagogic techniques for the above
>> -- identifying cultural illusions and trying to structure specific  
>> ways of countering them (see my blog)
>>        and so forth.
>>
>>      Warmly, Adam
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Schreiber"  
>> <edwschreiber at earthlink.net>
>> To: "grouptalk Listserv" <list at grouptalkweb.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 10:10 PM
>> Subject: A Sociometric Revolution
>>
>>
>>> Oh, just in case some of us feel such a thing is not really needed,
>>> I suggest some great darn solid research:
>>>
>>> UNDUE RISK:  SECRET STATE EXPERIMENTS ON HUMANS
>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>> MIND WARS - BRAIN RESEARCH AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
>>>
>>>
>>> Both highly recommended.
>>> If you want to see the sociodynamic effect.
>>>
>>> Both, by the way, are by Jonathan.
>>>
>>> Ed
>>>
>>> Grouptalk mailing list
>>> List at grouptalkweb.org
>>> http://grouptalkweb.org/mailman/listinfo/list_grouptalkweb.org
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
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>>>
>>
>

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