Hi Nick, Chris,

I happen to be reading "Is Science Neurotic" at this moment, and in
the normal course of events would post my "review" to my blog, and
e-mail a link to interested parties, like this discussion group.

I see no-one else has responded to the invite. I was not considering
myself "qualified' to review after reading the notes on the
Metapsychology site, then a thought occurred to me. Part of the
problem is "professional specialists" failing to see the wood for the
trees, and so an "amateur generalist" opinion is probably as valid, if
not more so.

So what I'll do is generate my review in essay rather than blog form,
and see what Chris thinks of it before I publish.

The angle I'm tempted to use, is to bring in other recent reads -
"Shroedinger's Kittens" and "Nature Loves to Hide" - and my own stock
of previous reviews and thoughts to make the point that much of the
message "there is a problem with an exclusively objective (false)
perspective of science" (whether we call it a neurosis or not) that
has been pointed out by many over a very long time. Nick's own work
over several decades has been almost continuously focussed on
propounding and explaing it.

The new thrust in Nick's latest work is to raise this above "writing
about it" as part of normal discourse, to an active "campaign" to get
the need to act recognized. What with other "global" sustainability
issues getting increasingly greater air-play, and let's not debate it,
let's do something about it, perhaps the time has come for such a
campaign to take off. Nick is right to suggest that this scientific
neurosis is the global issue underlying all others.

Let me create a review and get back to you.
Ian
www.psybertron.org

On 6/9/07, Nicholas Maxwell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Dear Friends of Wisdom,
>
>                                    Would anyone like to
> write a review of my book "Is Science Neurotic?" (Imperial College Press,
> 2004)?  It would be for Metapsychology Online Reviews.  In my book I spell
> out the case for wisdom-inquiry, but begin by arguing that neurosis needs to
> be interpreted as a methodological notion.  "Rationalistic neurosis" is a
> condition that arises when any aim-pursuing entity misrepresents its aims.
> It is in this sense that science is "neurotic".  It is often argued that
> psychoanalytic theory does not match up to the exacting standards of
> science.  My argument rather turns this on its head, in that it is science
> which does not match up to the exacting standards of psychoanalysis
> interpreted methodologically.
>
>                                    Details about
> Metapsychology Online Reviews, guidelines for reviews, and the editor,
> Christian Perring, are below.  A copy of my book sits in Christian Perring's
> office, awaiting a reviewer.
>
>                       Best wishes,
>
>                                    Nick Maxwell
> www.nick-maxwell.demon.co.uk
>
> Copy of Email from Christian Perring:-
>
> I am looking for prompt and careful reviewers for
> Metapsychology Online Reviews
> (http://www.mentalhelp.net/books ) (ISSN 1931-5716).
> Either a Ph.D. or ABD in Philosophy, Psychology, or other
> behavioral sciences is preferable. Ideally, reviews should
> draw connections between the subject of the book and issues
> in mental health, psychopathology, normality or emotions.
>
> Guidelines at
> http://alien.dowling.edu/~cperring/revguide.htm
>
> Deadline for reviews: October 1, 2007
>
> If interested, please e-mail me at
> [log in to unmask] with
>
> * your name
> * e-mail address
> * mailing address (even if you have given it previously)
> * list of books you are interested in (the more you list,
> the more likely you can get a book to review)
> * an explanation of your competence to review the books
> (especially for books that many people are likely to want
> to review)
> * details of your ability to write for a diverse readership.
>
> Once assigned, books will be sent out in the next couple of
> weeks.
>
> Thanks,
> Christian Perring
>
>
> Christian Perring, Ph.D.
> Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Dowling
> College
> Home page: http://alien.dowling.edu/~cperring/
> Editor of Metapsychology Online Reviews: http://www.mentalhelp.net/books
> Office Phone: (631) 244-3349
> Dept Philosophy, Dowling College, 150 Idle Hour Blvd, Oakdale, NY 11769, USA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>