User talk:Martin Baldwin-Edwards

Citizendium charter drafting commitee nomination

Hi Martin, You've been nominated by a fellow Citizendium member to be a candidate for election to the Citizendium charter drafting committee.

If you haven't been following the discussion in the forums, we're getting ready to establish a charter for Citizendium that outlines the project's goals, ideals, and basic structure. To get the process moving, we put together a plan for electing a group of Citizens to compose a draft of the charter, which will then be submitted for community review. You can find more about the plan here.

You've been nominated by another Citizen to be a candidate for election to that committee. The next step is up to you: you may either accept or decline the nomination by going here and following the instructions at the top of the page.

If you have any questions, just let me know. --Joe Quick 14:58, 18 September 2009 (UTC)

Charter drafting candidacy

Hi Martin,

Thanks for accepting your nomination to be a candidate for election to the drafting committee for the Citizendium charter.

If you'd like, there is a provision in the plan that provides a place for you to compose a position statement. You are not required to do this in order to be a candidate for election to the committee, but it would be helpful to others during the voting period. Even if you don't compose a statement before the election period concludes, should you be elected it might be helpful for other members of the committee to know what you feel are the most important issues to address with the draft. You can find a red link to the page where you can write your statement here, along with instructions for doing so.

If you have any questions, just let me know. --Joe Quick 19:29, 19 September 2009 (UTC)

"The Time of the Tribes" by Michel Maffesoli

Martin. I am reading "The Time of the Tribes" by Michel Maffesoli. I have made it to about half-way into the second chapter and am beginning to wonder if it makes sense to continue reading it. I assumed it was a work of sociology, but the narrative wanders all over the place and it comes across more as a work of obscure philosophy than one of scholarship.

Are you familiar with this work or the author? If so, what is your view on either? I have to decide whether to continue slogging through it or to put it on my "decided not to finish" bookshelp. Thanks. Dan Nessett 19:16, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

I must confess that I know neither the work nor the author, so I am not able to comment. Is it about contemporary issues or historical? Martin Baldwin-Edwards 19:57, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Contemporary. His thesis appears to be that the age of individualism is over and society is organizing itself into "tribes", in which individual identity is merged into the "emotional community." It is hard to follow his arguments, which may partially be due to the fact that I am reading an English translation of the original French. The backcover says he is Professor of Sociology at the Centre d'Etudes sur l'Actuel et le Quotidien, UER de Sciences Sociales, Paris. I have no idea whether this is a legitimate academic institution or some self accredited collection of esoteric seekers. Dan Nessett 20:12, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

I did a quick search. He is indeed in a proper university, but all of his appointments (as professor, to the national research bodies of France, etc) were denounced by the scientific community. His appointment to CNRS (a reputable national institute I have worked with) elicited this response:

… il est pour le moins étonnant de voir nommer comme représentant des disciplines « Homme et Société » Michel Maffesoli, un universitaire bien connu pour ses prises de position anti-rationalistes et anti-scientifiques.

... It is somewhat surprising to see appointed as representative of the disciplines "Man and Society" Michel Maffesoli, an academic well known for his anti-rationalist and anti-scientific position.

Martin Baldwin-Edwards 20:42, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Thanks. That is something of a relief. I can now put this very confusing book on my "decided not to read" bookshelf. Dan Nessett 21:10, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Please realize I am smiling with both of you, not at you, but I'm reminded a bit of the kerfluffle over Ayn Rand as a philosopher, and the immense discussion thereof. Howard C. Berkowitz 21:08, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

I found a review in the Canadian Journal of Sociology. The reviewer drew a positive but not glowing picture. It was too heavily postmodernist for him. --Joe Quick 21:15, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

I am surprised the reviewer even finished the book (I supposed he was either paid to do so or required by professionalism). It reads like the author was on drugs when he wrote it. Dan Nessett 21:45, 6 October 2009 (UTC)

Ah, that's postmodernism for you: hallucinations without the cost and risk of drugs :-) Martin Baldwin-Edwards 22:14, 6 October 2009 (UTC)