Ševčenko's law describing historians as dogs pissing at high frequency and accuracy on similar sets of trees despite the entire forest of general historical coverage available.

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[–][deleted]  (9 children)

[deleted]

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

    The first article seems to make the argument at the end that America has avoided pitfalls by looking at history. The link to that Sane Society book describes how capitalism makes people think in unhealthy ways. I agree with the conclusion, but are they saying that America is then unhealthy since it so obviously promotes capitalistic tendencies as being positive?

    [–][deleted]  (5 children)

    [deleted]

      [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

      I am enjoying the Mass Psychology pdf. It's quite the read, so I'm not finished with it yet. I read something that kind of bothered me, and I wanted to put it up here. The writer says that old ideas get replaced by better ideas, basically by passing through the gauntlet of rigorous study. He says " the Marxist "consciousness" was replaced by "dynamic structure," "needs" by "orgonotic instinctual processes," "tradition" by "biological and characterological rigidity," etc." Who has the right to say tradition is gone and is now simply "biological and characterological rigidity"? That seems to me like a subtle changing of a concept to mean something more reductionist. Same with consciousness.

      [–][deleted]  (2 children)

      [deleted]

        [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

        I see what you are saying. It all makes sense now, looking back on the article. Something I didn't do, but probably should've done, was looking up the author to gain better perspective on his time period. Even so, his words ring true for a good chunk of my countrymen. Lockstep, that is a good word. After a re-read, I may come away with more insight.

        [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

        Have you read any James Michener?

        [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

        I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying the Sane Society article. Thank you for putting it up here.