From: glevy@PRATT.EDU
Date: Thu Sep 30 2004 - 13:03:17 EDT
Hi Paul C. You object to "factors" > I think that one could be more precise though than using > the word forces, since that is a mechanical analogy > which may not be quite appropriate - connotations of > inertia, work done etc. It may be more appropriate to > focus on dynamic feedback mechanisms which increase > or reduce the probability of transitions. <snip, JL> but later write: > Some transitions can be induced by highly conjuncture > factors. A little slip, no? Well, no matter. I know what you mean (I think) and that's what is important. > Clearly in classical communist doctrine, the key factor > in the transition to socialism is war and the social disorder > brought about by war. "Classical" doctrine? A la Karl Liebknecht? > So I think that if we are to progress the discussion we > should focus on particular transitions arcs on the graph - > and in view of their conjunctural relevance - I suggest we > focus on the arcs below: > capitalism => socialism > socialism => capitalism > socialism => communism > communism => socialism > capitalism => communism > communism => capitalism Why not the following? capitalism => feudalism capitalism => slavery socialism => feudalism socialism => slavery While the arcs of probability would be lower, wouldn't they have a non-zero probability? Aren't there other m of p's that haven't existed yet that could also be mapped and have non-zero probabilities? In solidarity, Jerry
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