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Cynthia, I related in my thesis and my dialectical AR tool ontology, the science of human existence pragmatically to therapy, catharsis, well-being and ontological security. I approach human existence through the human-all-too-human - that transcends race, ethnicity, gender or age - aspiration and need to lead a life of greater fulfilment, well-being, meaning and ontological security (thesis) and less pain, angst, insecurity, frustration, void, exclusion and alienation (anti-thesis). I love Fanon and have a postdoc interest in postcolonialism and Critical Race Theory and education for democracy, equality, inclusion and pluralism. I am working very hard now promoting my tool to fight racism and discrimination and the understanding of their roots that I myself regard as severe ontological insecurity, weakness and complexities 'complexes' om the part of the racist. I came up with a slogan to the anti- racism campaign: 'It is not you, it is me'. I hope it highlights my view of racism as a severe case of ontological insecurity and misery on the part of the racist. He/she needs to feel superior and secure through discriminating the so-called 'other/different'. Of course, the more he/she does so, the more insecure, miserable and weak he/she becomes. I do hope you can read my thesis and relate it to your Fanon and CRT aspired work. I am looking forward to it. Alon Quoting Jack Whitehead <[log in to unmask]>: > Dear All - Cynthia is having some problems posting to the list and > has just asked me if I would post the following message: > 5-16-11 > Dear Jack: > > Thank you for keeping me included in the discussions which I feel > are very enlightening. > While in the midst of driving home from traffic yesterday I realized > Alon raises an important issue concerning epistemology before > ontology…I went back to page 64 of my dissertation D.O.O.R.S. OF > CHANGE: CAPACITY BUILDING TO DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION (2009) which > discusses ontology: > > “Four research paradigms are recognized in scientific inquiry. They > are positivism, postpositivism, critical thinking and > constructivism. These paradigms are classified according to > ontology, epistemology and methodology. According to Guba (1990) > ontology encompasses the nature of reality. Epistemology involves > the characteristics of the relationship between the researcher and > the item researched. Methodology refers to the manner in which the > researcher find out knowledge (Guba, 1990).” > > Alon Seper’s theory is what I would label as Backwards Design Living > Theory or Living Educational Theory which now makes sense to me. I > plan to read Alon’s thesis and hope to further understand his > viewpoint, which I believe I support as an African American educator > because what do you do if the ontological beliefs of a person or > group of people are distorted? > > Let me explain, I am a left-handed person. Years ago I studied the > Arabic language which reads right to left, where the English > language reads left to right. The right to left Arabic language > reading seemed natural to me because I probably have left-spatial > orientation as a left-handed person. I also studied calligraphy and > had to for the first time use my right hand because the wet ink > would smear if I used my left hand. (The left-handed pens did not > work for me). > > So let us call ontology before epistemology the Left to Right theory > and epistemology before ontology that Alon brings up the Backwards > Design Living Theory or Living Educational Theory. > > Another way of looking at what I call the Backwards Design Living > Theory or (BDLT or BDLET) is to examine racism and the Critical > Race Theory (CRT). From CRT or Fanon’s theorectical perspective > “Blackness” needs to be defined in terms of the “Black people” not > the dominant group because the dominant group viewpoint is different > and favors their ontological beliefs…particularly in matters of > law. From the CRT perspective Black people are no longer viewed as > the problem with racism. The CRT viewpoint is the problem with > racism stems from the dominant group which needs to change their > perspective, their legal policies and ontological beliefs to end > racism. Therefore, you may disagree with this, however, the > Backwards Design Living Theory or the epistemology before ontology > theory makes sense to me. > > Cynthia Cozette Lee, Ed.D. 215-971-3684-cell > > > Love Jack.