Yes, yes yes - Alan - this is why I wanted you to be a keynote so much - I
feel that in you we are witnessing the emergence of an entirely different
ontology - and that action research is one of the few places where this can
happen in a culture that perceives birthing of ontologies as an element of
the "what is" that we can interact with...I am not sure that action
researchers share this aspect of the field - but I hope that in your company
at the Congress this extraordinary window will open - for the benefit of
your encounter with this philosophy and for the benefit of others who
likewise are compelled/inspired to take such a vast leap as you are taking -
and all for the healing of the world.

In a participatory environment we should feel entirely OK about cats looking
at kings - understanding not that we are experts in this thing - we are not
experts at looking at the night sky either - but that we have a right and a
responsibility to perceive such a momentous thing as the emerging of a new
ontology, to witness and companion, critique, explore, help, engage and try
out... Be a part of its becoming so to speak. Because all our perception of
is goes into making it what it is...

I have witnessed this happening here on this network - whose members have
held you and what I would refer to as "the best of all possible beasts" in
the form of natural inclusion - in respect, love and sometimes most useful
contention as you give birth - as nature flows through you and it - as she
does. 
Warmest
Susan






On 12/05/10 6:04 PM, "Alan Rayner (BU)" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Dear Susan,
> 
> Great!
> 
> I really hope that my paper can have this catalytic influence that you
> describe. It can now be viewed on the Society-Education page at
> www.bestthinking.com and it would be good if members of this list could
> visit and comment if they wish.
> 
> In some personal correspondence yesterday, prompted by a very moving message
> from one of my 'Life, Environment and People' students (see attached
> transcript, also pasted below), I included the following paragraph:
> 
> "natural inclusionality (which I think of both as a source of 'compassionate
> wisdom' and an acknowledgement of how the natural world actually is, freed
> from super-imposed human frameworks and ideologies) is not a hegemonic
> philosophy, but one which Jack and I increasingly see providing for a living
> logic and language which serves and expresses the aspirations of AR in a way
> that is consistent with evidence and makes consistent sense. Obviously, very
> few people have understood the profoundly radical foundations and
> implications of natural inclusionality as yet, including - so far as I can
> tell - most members of the list, so there is a need for rehearsal and
> refinement of our explications whilst remaining mindful that many may not be
> ready or willing to open the door across the threshold, for the variety of
> logical, cognitive, fear-full, mathematical and linguistic reasons that I
> identify in my draft keynote paper. By its very nature, natural
> inclusionality does not oppose what I see as more partial and less radical
> approaches to AR. Ultimately, though, I do see AR (in which I am a novice)
> as providing a birth channel for NI in which mother and baby can be proud of
> one another and express themselves coherently as an influence for
> compassionate wisdom in a distressed world."
> 
> In saying this, however, I don't assume that my understandings and
> explications are necessarily sound - they are simply what currently makes
> sense to me.
> 
> I think this relates also to your comment:
> 
> "What I am picking up here is that uniquely, I would suggest, AR has
> legitimate powers to interrogate the philosophy/culture that underpins truth
> as observed/held by participants.
> 
> Where the ethics, aesthetics and philosophies of knowing are open to
> participation, then these ontological views are able to be questioned and
> co-created... And PAR has a wonderful place in the cosmos of legitimately
> destabilising these planetary presumptions...."
> 
> 
> Warmest
> 
> Alan
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> 
> Dear Alan
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you. To have been taught by you in the past few months has been an
> incredible experience. And I am truly grateful to you and whatever it was
> that led me to your class. To be in the presence of your compassionate
> wisdom, is a blessing. All Academic work has a negative effect on my health.
> But this course has offered a positive dimension, and it is so hard to
> express how much such a philosophy has guided me and strengthened my mind
> and heart in such a hard time in my life. I want to give you this CD as a
> present to say thank you. But also to share with you what first helped me to
> become loosely Attuned to the Transfigural. It was when listening to this
> that I began to feel the music exist within space, that encovered me and I
> felt the music exist within me as well as the space around. So much so that
> I felt myself blending to my surroundings, and the music was a continuous
> flow through me. If space holds music, how can it be nothingness?
> 
> 
> 
> Something clicked in my mind, and to hear you talk about it was magical.
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Susan Goff" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 11:45 PM
> Subject: Re: Education and Learning Virtual Networking Stream for ALARA's
> 8th World Congress
> 
> 
>> Just dipping in Alan .. In haste and in passing!... Yes - my sense is we
>> are
>> growing energy for engagement on many "fronts" of the imminent lip of
>> being
>> (together), we are creating new language with creates new spaces for
>> worlds
>> and relationships to emerge, new connections and flow throughs, into and
>> from... which if you publish the draft now it will add to this in a very
>> substantial way - and perhaps inspire other significant philosophical
>> propositions to also come forward. As your paper is continually changing
>> with your ongoing journey into the emerging dynamic that the Congress is
>> creating, inevitably another version of it will develop for publication
>> after the Congress event so there is no concern from me that thee will be
>> issues with publication rights. We are all aware of time and timing...
>> Lets
>> nourish the possibilities with whatever we have here and now... It is such
>> a
>> wonderful opportunity
>> 
>> Keep is in the loop with any feedback you get????
>> Warmest
>> Susan
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 11/05/10 2:03 PM, "Jacques" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> I'd have no qualms with the bestthinking idea, dear Alan... especially if
>>> you could insert a bit of advertising for the Congress and encourage
>>> people
>>> to come!
>>> 
>>> Best to all
>>> Jacques
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Practitioner-Researcher
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alan Rayner
>>> (BU)
>>> Sent: Sunday, 9 May 2010 7:24 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Education and Learning Virtual Networking Stream for ALARA's
>>> 8th World Congress
>>> 
>>> Dear Jacques, Bob, Nathalis and all,
>>> 
>>> I really do hope that my keynote presentation at ALARA next September,
>>> and
>>> the draft paper that I have written - and am continually revising in
>>> response to comments and conversation - in preparation for it, can help
>>> to
>>> prepare the way for this more circumspect (!) language and form of
>>> reasoning
>>> 
>>> to emerge.
>>> 
>>> Perhaps I should publish the draft paper on the www.bestthinking.com
>>> site,
>>> where it is open to editing suggestions? What do you think?
>>> 
>>> Warmest
>>> 
>>> Alan
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jacques" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 5:23 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Education and Learning Virtual Networking Stream for ALARA's
>>> 8th World Congress
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> 'amen' to that, dear Bob... I usually use the word 'circumscription' to
>>>> replace 'definition' as it resonates well with the 'perambulation' idea
>>>> of
>>>> walking alongside others and 'narrating' the experience of the
>>>> 'landscape'... indeed, it IS important to change our metaphors and other
>>>> language when we do this kind of work   even if it means that other have
>>>> to
>>>> agree to give that other language a chance...
>>>> Love to all
>>>> 
>>>> Jacques
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Practitioner-Researcher
>>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob Dick
>>>> Sent: Saturday, 8 May 2010 7:18 PM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: Education and Learning Virtual Networking Stream for
>>>> ALARA's
>>>> 8th World Congress
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Speaking only for myself, here are a few comments on the issue of
>>>> "what is action research?".
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> For the most part I avoid debates about definitions.  I do this
>>>> because for the most part I don't think they are important.  To my
>>>> mind, meaning is more usefully negotiated than defined.
>>>> 
>>>> It IS important though, I believe, to recognise when we use
>>>> different words to describe the same "reality".  And it's important
>>>> to be aware that we use the same word with different meanings.
>>>> 
>>>> (In case you're wondering, yes, I do think there is reality.  I
>>>> stick it in quotes only because I suspect some of you doubt its
>>>> existence.  In an action research study, "reality" is whatever I'm
>>>> trying to help people to improve.)
>>>> 
>>>> To my mind that doesn't mean that one definition or the other is
>>>> correct.  It means we have some listening and some negotiation to do
>>>> before we can communicate meaningfully.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Then there's the issue about what counts as action research.
>>>> Personally, I don't expect the boundary around a meaning to be
>>>> precise.
>>>> 
>>>> Language requires us to chop the world up into pieces that can be
>>>> labelled.  Life would presumably be easier if it didn't;  but that's
>>>> how it is, I think.  I find it useful to be mindful of this, and to
>>>> assume that in "reality" the boundaries are fuzzy.
>>>> 
>>>> The boundaries exist, I think.  It's just that they aren't clear or
>>>> precise.
>>>> 
>>>> For me, there are some varieties of AR that are probably similar
>>>> enough and common enough to be regarded as mainstream.  Other
>>>> varieties are nearer to the boundary.  There may be some AR-like
>>>> processes sitting outside the boundary.
>>>> 
>>>> I suspect I've learned more from some of the varieties near the
>>>> boundary than from the mainstream.  I'm thinking, for instance, of
>>>> some of the soft systems approaches, or appreciative inquiry.  Or
>>>> (to move beyond the boundary perhaps) participative evaluation.
>>>> 
>>>> On occasion I've had reason to be pleased that I have had some
>>>> training and experience as a laboratory experimentalist.  It gives
>>>> me an additional and different perspective on research and change.
>>>> 
>>>> In addition, it seems to me that every AR or AL study I'm involved
>>>> in is unique.
>>>> 
>>>> So for me there is some irony in the proliferation of labels for the
>>>> different varieties.  Personally, I don't know what an action
>>>> research study is going to be like until it's over.  It keeps
>>>> morphing.  If I labelled every variation I'd multiply the labels
>>>> already available.  That doesn't seem useful.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Very occasionally I even wonder if the term "action research" is
>>>> useful. :-)
>>>> 
>>>> On the other hand I do think your planned exercise is useful,
>>>> Margaret, provided it isn't intended to be definitive.
>>>> 
>>>> Cheers    --  Bob
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -- 
>>>> 
>>>>  +- Bob Dick ------------------------------------------------------+
>>>>  |  bd at uqconnect.net  http://www.uqconnect.net/action_research/ |
>>>>  +-----------------------------------------------------------------+
>>>> 
>>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
>>>> signature
>>>> database 5097 (20100509) __________
>>>> 
>>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.eset.com
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
>>> signature
>>> database 5099 (20100509) __________
>>> 
>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>>> 
>>> http://www.eset.com
>> 
>>