tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post691865234710592418..comments2024-03-26T06:17:49.527-07:00Comments on Had Enough Therapy?: The Last PsychologistStuart Schneidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12784043736879991769noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-14656208661568150392014-08-02T10:19:21.818-07:002014-08-02T10:19:21.818-07:00Yes, its good for the Onion to explore the paradox...Yes, its good for the Onion to explore the paradoxes of subjective knowledge and science.<br /><br />E. F. Schumacher divided knowledge into four fields, and says the scientific method can only objectively study field 4 (observing the world), while we also have direct access to field 1 (our own subjective inner experience), as the Onion suggests, what self-awareness provides to us can't be tested. But Schumacher provides two other fields of knowledge we can only know indirectly, but we can understand ourselves better through knowing how others see us objectively, and we can understand another's inner state better by improving our awareness of our own inner experiences.<br /><br />If psychology fails to be a science, it may because objective knowledge just won't get us far enough. Jung sidestepped Freud's predicaments by not worrying about science, and accepted everything inner can only be known through myth and metaphor, hence religion, at least if you settle on a fixed theology.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Guide_for_the_Perplexed#Four_fields_of_knowledge<br />Schumacher identifies four fields of knowledge for the individual:<br />1. I → inner<br />2. I → other persons (inner)<br />3. other persons → I<br />4. I → the world<br /><br />These four fields arise from combining two pairs: Myself and the World; and Outer Appearance and Inner Experience. He notes that humans only have direct access to fields one and four.<br /><br />Field one is being aware of your feelings and thoughts and most closely correlates to self awareness. He argues this is fundamentally the study of attention. He differentiates between when your attention is captured by the item it focuses upon, which is when a human being functions much like a machine; and when a person consciously directs their attention according to their choosing. This for him is the difference between being lived and living.<br /><br />Field two is being aware of what other people are thinking and feeling. .<br /><br />Despite these problems we do experience a 'meeting of minds' with other individuals at certain times. People are even able to ignore the words actually said, and say something like "I don't agree with what you are saying; but I do agree with what you mean." Schumacher argues that one of the reasons we can understand other people is through bodily experience, because so many bodily expressions, gestures and postures are part of our common human heritage.<br /><br />Schumacher observes that the traditional answer to the study of field two has been "You can understand others to the extent you understand yourself." Schumacher points out that this a logical development of the principle of adequateness, how can you understand someone's pain unless you too have experienced pain?<br /><br />Field three is understanding yourself as an objective phenomenon. Knowledge in field three requires you to be aware what other people think of you. Schumacher suggests that the most fruitful advice in this field can be gained by studying the Fourth Way concept of external considering.<br /><br />Schumacher observes that relying on just field one knowledge makes you feel that you are the centre of the universe; while focusing on field three knowledge makes you feel that you are far more insignificant. Seeking self-knowledge via both fields provides more balanced and accurate self-knowledge.<br /><br />Field four is the behaviourist study of the outside world. Science is highly active in this area of knowledge and many people believe it is the only field in which true knowledge can be gained. For Schumacher, applying the scientific approach is highly appropriate in this field.<br /><br />Only when all four fields of knowledge are cultivated can you have true unity of knowledge. Instruments and methodologies of study should be only applied to the appropriate field they are designed for.Ares Olympushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726811306826601686noreply@blogger.com