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To cite this article: Michel Weber (2002) Jason W. Brown, Microgenetic theory: Reflections and prospects: Commentary by
Michel Weber, Neuropsychoanalysis: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Psychoanalysis and the Neurosciences, 4:1, 119-120,
DOI: 10.1080/15294145.2002.10773386
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15294145.2002.10773386
119
Plato's ``Exaiphnes'' belong to durationless instantaneity?), but, on the whole (no pun intended
but appropriate), the paper reads really well
with, however, two correlated minor exceptions:
the discussion of the ``regularity/rule/habit'' distinction and the debate around ``innateness''. It is
to be feared indeed that the shades of meaning of
the former are not clearly delineated and the
coherence of the innatist claim within a process
framework not suciently questioned. It is our
contention that any appeal to somewhat atemporal realities need to receive a strong categorical
background (remember Whitehead). Perhaps a
dialogue with evolutionary epistemology (e.g.,
Capek, Piaget and Rescher) would prove to be
helpful here.
Unsurprisingly, the Authors' plea for holism
is itself holistic enough: alongside scientic
questions, epistemological, ontological and even
religious puzzles are raised. This brings us back to
our introductory remark. Qua spiritual descendant of German holism who does not hesitate to
speak of salvation, Brown might be willing to
understand the business of speculation (scientic,
philosophical . . .), when all is said and done, as
``holistic transgurative vision''. By this we mean
the following: since ultimately there cannot be
any bifurcation between the systematic thought of
a given scholar and his/her life as it is lived, one
will necessary nd the meaning of the incriminated
practice in the actual impact it has on his/her
existence. One does not debate, say, over microtubular cytoskeleton's quantic virtues simply for
the sake of understanding this or that phenomenon, but in order to give some sense to one's own
existence. Pushed to the hilt, this pragmatic
criterion commits the whole destiny of the
individual and, when reexively thematized (a
philosophical speciality), opens the door to a
visionbetter, a contactthat has an all-embracing transformative virtue. Rationality gives birth
to the post-rational and this breakthrough cannot
but bend the course of our mundane existence.
For suggesting all this in his essay, Brown should
be warmly thanked.
References
Capek, M. (1959), La theorie biologique de la connaissance chez Bergson et sa signication actuelle.
Revue de Metaphysique et de Morale, 44: 194211.
120
Michel Weber
Rescher, N. (1990), A Useful Inheritance. Evolutionary
Aspects of the Theory of Knowledge. Totowa, NJ:
Rowman & Littleeld.
Whitehead, A. N. (1978), Process and Reality. An
Essay in Cosmology, Giord Lectures delivered in
the University of Edinburgh during the session
19271928, corrected edition, ed. D. R. Grin & D.
W. Sherburne. New YorkLondon: The Free Press,
a division of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc.Collier
Macmillan Publishers.
Weber, M. (2001), The assassination of the diadoches.
Streams of William James, 3(1): 1318.
Michel Weber,
Docteur en Philosophie
Institut superieur de philosophie,
Universite catholique de Louvain,
Belgium