The Practice of Theory, Revisited

by Brian on 02-11-2010

in belief,concepts,creativity,education,science

Of everything I’ve written, I think The New Pragmatist has retained the most value.

I told someone two years ago I was going to clean it up and publish a PDF, but I got pulled away from it by too many new ideas to have any patience for futzing around with something old… until now:

There’s another post in the archives called “The Practice of Theory,” but it isn’t directly related.

I’m using that name here because that’s what I’m calling the book — which is finished except for the final design and publishing. I’m hoping to get it out via Lulu by the middle or end of March.

Since this is just the start of a long process of understanding (and improving) these ideas — and because I’m genuinely worried about the holes in my amateur approach (which doesn’t make the broad shape of these ideas any less valid) — I set up yet another blog to keep the conversation going.

It’s at PracticeofTheory.com running the Commentpress theme, which enables people to comment on specific paragraphs. It’s something I’ve wanted an excuse to play with; this is a good opportunity.

The other 17 chapters will be posted there when the book comes out.

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Tagged as: books, epistemology, knowledge, lulu, objectivity, practice of theory, pragmatism, publishing, self-publishing, subjectivity

  • ronny

    I wonder how often successful business leaders become so without any knowledge, understanding, or interest, in pragmatism. I suspect it's quite a high ratio compared to those who have systematically “practiced the theory”.

    If that is the case, does that suggest that they are doing so instinctively – like a genetic disposition? And if being “naturally pragmatic” is a basis for success in business and life, is it likely, or even possible, for one not predisposed to the talent (?) to successfully incorporate it into their personal framework.

    I imagine it can be studied and practiced, but I also suspect the results would most often be somewhat less fruitful than the desired objective, compared to the “naturally-inclined” example.

    Or – maybe I'm just making excuses for myself :)

  • http://brianfrank.ca Brian Frank

    There's a big movement towards “design thinking” in business and Roger Martin at U of T's Rotman is at least one very influential business person drawing a direct connection to old-school pragmatism…

    Hidden in that essay is the suggestion that thinking skeptically a lot like I do tends to be a liability — except during transitional or revolutionary periods like we're in now. I'm not saying business people are wrong not to practice theory any more than I'm wrong not to prefer renting an apartment so someone else can worry about fixing stuff.

    I think it does come down to disposition (hard to say exactly how genetic it is though; I've read personality is more hereditary than intelligence, but I haven't gone far enough into it to be confident either way). We're all fit for different niches (and vice versa).

    I have more to say about that in other chapters.