[ show plain text ]
Oh, I should mention that I recently read a very nice study by Stephen T
Asma, Following Form and Function: An Archaelogy of the Life Sciences. He
defends his thesis that Darwin developed a causal pluralism in trying to
resolve the debate between Geoffroy (struturalism) and Cuvier
(functionalism). If in an Aristotlen sense we take causes to be
explanatory factors, I am reminded here of Makoto Itoh's rather insightful
analysis of the puzzles of value (exchange ratios, why value can only be
expressed in price, why money monopolizes direct exchangeability) in terms
of both the labor substance and form of commodities. Like Darwin, Makoto's
Marx works from a causal or explanatory pluralism. I should also mention
that Asma's piece of the "Metaphors of Race: Theoretical Presuppositions
Behind Racism" in the American Philosophical Quarterly (vol 32, no 1
January 1995 13-29 is doubtless one of the most brilliant pieces I have
read on this topic.
All the best, Rakesh
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Aug 31 2000 - 00:00:03 EDT