Abraham Rotstein, Weekend Notes XII - Revision history

Santiago Pinault at 03:04, 14 December 2019

2019-12-14T03:04:02Z

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	[[Abraham Rotstein, Weekend Notes\| Weekend Notes (Overview)]]		[[Abraham Rotstein, Weekend Notes\| Weekend Notes (Overview)]]

	== "Freedom and Technology" (2) - General Comments ==		== "Freedom and Technology" (3) - General Comments ==
	{{Page \|n°=2}} The interdependence of technology, fear and power is the strongest part of the whole thesis and this raises our question on the correct level. It is not a purely metaphysical question because nothing to technology can be pure metaphysics. There is a kind of precariousness of existence.		{{Page \|n°=2}} The interdependence of technology, fear and power is the strongest part of the whole thesis and this raises our question on the correct level. It is not a purely metaphysical question because nothing to technology can be pure metaphysics. There is a kind of precariousness of existence.

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	This is the right form of truth. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		This is the right form of truth. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	== Introduction to "Freedom and Technology" (3) ==		== Introduction to "Freedom and Technology" (4) ==
	{{Page \|n°=20}} Use the outline submitted [[To Thomas A. Bledsoe (24 April 1957)\|to Bledsoe (April 24, 1957]]) for the introduction.		{{Page \|n°=20}} Use the outline submitted [[To Thomas A. Bledsoe (24 April 1957)\|to Bledsoe (April 24, 1957]]) for the introduction.

Santiago Pinault at 02:56, 14 December 2019

2019-12-14T02:56:19Z

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	[[Abraham Rotstein, Weekend Notes\| Weekend Notes (Overview)]]		[[Abraham Rotstein, Weekend Notes\| Weekend Notes (Overview)]]

	== "Freedom and Technology" - General Comments ==		== "Freedom and Technology" (2) - General Comments ==
	{{Page \|n°=2}} The interdependence of technology, fear and power is the strongest part of the whole thesis and this raises our question on the correct level. It is not a purely metaphysical question because nothing to technology can be pure metaphysics. There is a kind of precariousness of existence.		{{Page \|n°=2}} The interdependence of technology, fear and power is the strongest part of the whole thesis and this raises our question on the correct level. It is not a purely metaphysical question because nothing to technology can be pure metaphysics. There is a kind of precariousness of existence.

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	This is the right form of truth. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		This is the right form of truth. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	== Introduction to "Freedom and Technology" ==		== Introduction to "Freedom and Technology" (3) ==
	{{Page \|n°=20}} Use the outline submitted [[To Thomas A. Bledsoe (24 April 1957)\|to Bledsoe (April 24, 1957]]) for the introduction.		{{Page \|n°=20}} Use the outline submitted [[To Thomas A. Bledsoe (24 April 1957)\|to Bledsoe (April 24, 1957]]) for the introduction.

Santiago Pinault: /* The Poor Law */

2019-12-12T06:25:32Z

The Poor Law

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	P. upholds the thesis that the Poor Law was the matrix of English economic history. Should the poor be helped or not? Was it a good thing to have many poor? Why could you make money on the poor? (i.e. the authorities).		P. upholds the thesis that the Poor Law was the matrix of English economic history. Should the poor be helped or not? Was it a good thing to have many poor? Why could you make money on the poor? (i.e. the authorities).

	The poor had a place in the country and the church took care of them. The man in the village wasn't poor. At the time of ~~Laudthe~~ church didn't accept the destruction of society by capitalism (1640) and he lost his life when he stood against the enclosures. Needham also has a chapter on this in "[[Christianity and the Social Revolution]]" [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		The poor had a place in the country and the church took care of them. The man in the village wasn't poor. At the time of Laud the church didn't accept the destruction of society by capitalism (1640) and he lost his life when he stood against the enclosures. Needham also has a chapter on this in "[[Christianity and the Social Revolution]]" [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	=== ''Christianity and the Social Revolution'' (2) ===		=== ''Christianity and the Social Revolution'' (2) ===

Santiago Pinault: /* Shaw (2) */

2019-12-12T06:25:08Z

Shaw (2)

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	=== Shaw (2) ===		=== Shaw (2) ===
	Bernard Shaw's complaint is that the bourgeois world is an ~~adjustement~~ to a non-existent world of conventions and phobias which were an evasion of the reality of society. What we suggest is the actual reality of society not the delusionary one.		Bernard Shaw's complaint is that the bourgeois world is an adjustment to a non-existent world of conventions and phobias which were an evasion of the reality of society. What we suggest is the actual reality of society not the delusionary one.

	Shaw was a poet, artist and a successful playwright and had an utterly basic philosophical approach. He could use the circus technique and since people didn't accept the reality of society he could have ropes and holes and people would fall through them and stumble. He brings man's body, soul and spirit on the same level. Otherwise's it's in bad taste to play with man's salvation and cut his whiskers with a scissor. E.g. the doctor and the young girl in “You Never Can Tell”. The idea of the practical joke is a Shavian idea - man stumbling down the stairs in his career. Pygmalion is Greek myth. The sculptor forms a girl and brings her to life.		Shaw was a poet, artist and a successful playwright and had an utterly basic philosophical approach. He could use the circus technique and since people didn't accept the reality of society he could have ropes and holes and people would fall through them and stumble. He brings man's body, soul and spirit on the same level. Otherwise it's in bad taste to play with man's salvation and cut his whiskers with a scissor. E.g. the doctor and the young girl in “You Never Can Tell”. The idea of the practical joke is a Shavian idea - man stumbling down the stairs in his career. Pygmalion is Greek myth. The sculptor forms a girl and brings her to life.

	P. read Candida. The most amazing thing is the last page of Major Barbara. Also read “Arms and the Man”, “Man of Destiny”. It is quick reading and the shorter ~~one~~ take only one and a quarter hours. P. also read “The Joan” introduction which is ~~nots~~ so relevant. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		P. read Candida. The most amazing thing is the last page of Major Barbara. Also read “Arms and the Man”, “Man of Destiny”. It is quick reading and the shorter ones take only one and a quarter hours. P. also read “The Joan” introduction which is not so relevant. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	=== Dery ===		=== Dery ===

Santiago Pinault: /* Greece, Rome and the Economy */

2019-12-12T06:17:52Z

Greece, Rome and the Economy

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	Plato lived to age 90 insinuating himself everywhere by being a great poet. Plato was the student of Socrates. These three lives span the whole of classical Greece. Aristophanes wrote against and made fun of Socrates - “these Freudian corrupters of the youth”, and was probably responsible for his death.		Plato lived to age 90 insinuating himself everywhere by being a great poet. Plato was the student of Socrates. These three lives span the whole of classical Greece. Aristophanes wrote against and made fun of Socrates - “these Freudian corrupters of the youth”, and was probably responsible for his death.

	The work with Ostwald brings in the auction as the main form of sale. ~~[…]~~		The work with Ostwald brings in the auction as the main form of sale. How many purposes are served by the auction, including publicity? Things could be sold either at the greatest or with complete secrecy. The greatest publicity is given to the sale of land and slaves in the middle of the market. Otherwise we evidence of these not being sold in the market place or through public agents. Land and slaves are part of the public structure. Land is not a private property ever except in modern times. There are claims on it of the family, nobility etc. and they would register their claim.

	{{Page \|n°=50}} [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		Under Roman law a certain piece of land could only be sold under ancient law forms. Also slaves and oxen were sold under the “mancipacio”. During the sale the balance was held up as a part of ancient Roman law and a man would hold up the balance before five Roman citizens. Slaves, oxen and {{Page \|n°=50}} the Roman land plot that you had inherited were so important that you have the highest publicity and ceremony when these were being sold or they were sold secretly and privately I a house off the agora where deals were made. The agora is not rialto. The rialto is a place of business where you could talk with other business men. That may have been open talk. But ultimately the deal in the rialto was solemnized (and a pound of flesh would be claimed, P. is not talking about Shakespeare’s “Shylock” which was semi-romantic). There was then either extreme publicity or privacy. The auction is public (the secret auction exists but not in these times).

			The Romans sold all the state property, booty and confiscated material through the auction. Ostwald has to look up all the books of reference and this study will go into money book. To approach this question from “money” and “sale” is something unheard of. Ostwald would have to take up our views on money and he would tell us what he is permitted to do along how owl lines.

			In his introduction to “Greece” P. says a human society based on the economy was unable to deal with economic matters. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	== Jewish Survival ==		== Jewish Survival ==

Santiago Pinault: /* Notes */

2019-12-12T05:50:09Z

Notes

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	In France literature is being carried on on an unprecedented level of responsibility and political morality.		In France literature is being carried on on an unprecedented level of responsibility and political morality.

	== Notes ==		== Editor's Notes ==

	<references />		<references />

Santiago Pinault: /* France */

2019-12-12T05:49:46Z

France

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	=== France ===		=== France ===
	In France literature is being carried on on an unprecedented level of responsibility and political morality.		In France literature is being carried on on an unprecedented level of responsibility and political morality.

			== Notes ==

			<references />

	== Text Informations ==		== Text Informations ==
	'''Date''': June 22, [[1957]]<br />		'''Date''': June 22, [[1957]]<br />
	'''KPA''': [[45/08]]		'''KPA''': [[45/08]]

Santiago Pinault: /* The Canadian Elections */

2019-12-12T05:48:56Z

The Canadian Elections

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 == The Canadian Elections ==
-{{Page |n°=47}} […] {{Page |n°=48}} [[#mw-page-base|↑]]
+{{Page |n°=47}} In discussing the reasons for the turn of events in the June 9th elections, certain explanations are given such as “the government went too far” or “it was tactless” etc. This is similar to business or family life which is a fair comparison. These reasons therefore to business or family life which is a fair comparison. These reasons therefore are sincerely given. However, these elections were the occasion of the break – the above reasons were not the cause itself. It was the last straw and appears to be the immediate cause however, but there are other causes.
 == Greece, Rome and the Economy ==

Santiago Pinault: /* K.P. on Writing */

2019-12-12T05:26:39Z

K.P. on Writing

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	{{Page \|n°=46}} Sartre says a writer can have two motives: he can express his individuality and he can express his solidarity with everyone. Sartre is for the latter and the content and clarity comes from a kind of humility.		{{Page \|n°=46}} Sartre says a writer can have two motives: he can express his individuality and he can express his solidarity with everyone. Sartre is for the latter and the content and clarity comes from a kind of humility.

	P. thinks is true. It was one of P.'s sources of never becoming a writer. For the greatest part of his life he wrote with definite intent of …		P. thinks is true. It was one of P.'s sources of never becoming a writer. For the greatest part of his life he wrote with definite intent of conveying meaning by indirection, not directly. He thought this was one of the features of writing. This was a vanity – that you do not reveal yourself, and if you did, you would have to reveal the limits of your depth and greatness. You refuse to face the facts that there is nothing deep, mysterious and wonderful to your thoughts. That is one of the possible sources of it and that is why Tolstoy leads to admirable clarity and limpidity of expression.

	[…] Rousseau		Only in [[The Great Transformation]] for the first time, did P. decide he would have only one principle in writing – utmost clarity from beginning to end. The weakness is that it should have been twice as long. There is, however, never a complaint of obscurity. This was the justified and common complaint of the things he had written previously. The main thoughts were not expressed simply and clearly and given their due. Partly, the main thoughts were quite commonplace and P. professed to disown them. That is the secret of this kind of failure, and yet with the very greatest writers they do the opposite e.g. Kafka, the appearance is always clarity and limpid style and simplicity. The great writers seemed simple but e.g. Rousseau – the Contrat Social – is obscure. What Rousseau would have had to say was beyond and some things couldn’t be expressed any other way. The paradoxy of the New Testament is another thing, and short of the paradox nothing can express the thought. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	[[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	== The Canadian Elections ==		== The Canadian Elections ==

Santiago Pinault: /* Book on Money */

2019-12-12T05:11:49Z

Book on Money

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	== Book on Money ==		== Book on Money ==
	{{Page \|n°=44}} Work is proceeding towards a book on money and P. started to map out such a book. This would be a completely different approach from anything ever tried. It would drop the market and exchange side (allocation) but would include the origins of market institutions. P. would use his money paper as an introduction and keep to money uses but not have it systematic. E.g. the role of equivalencies and operational devices in the development of money institutions. He would as Ostwald to do money from this aspect, where sale - purchase isn't practiced, only the auction. (this has the feel of a war.) ~~[…]~~		{{Page \|n°=44}} Work is proceeding towards a book on money and P. started to map out such a book. This would be a completely different approach from anything ever tried. It would drop the market and exchange side (allocation) but would include the origins of market institutions. P. would use his money paper as an introduction and keep to money uses but not have it systematic. E.g. the role of equivalencies and operational devices in the development of money institutions. He would as Ostwald to do money from this aspect, where sale - purchase isn't practiced, only the auction. (this has the feel of a war.)

	The Phrygians and the Phoenicians displayed their goods in the argos (auctions).		The Phrygians and the Phoenicians displayed their goods in the argos (auctions).
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	The impersonal character of transactions is not limited to the market - the auction is just as impersonal if not more so.		The impersonal character of transactions is not limited to the market - the auction is just as impersonal if not more so.

	The stock exchange is ~~functionnally … […]~~		The stock exchange is functionally price-making but personally it is not. In the rialto there would be higgling and haggling. In a stock exchange there is no higgling and haggling while in a typical market there is higgling and haggling. Therefore it is not true that the market is higgling and haggling necessarily nor impersonal. All that is being taught about this question is superficial. The auction is more impersonal.

	Now it turns out that important deals and objects were sold privately and ~~argos … […]~~ The {{Page \|n°=45}} latter are markets because supply and demand crowds are present. There may be transitional things such as controlled prices. (Rostovtzeff says all prices are controlled).		Now it turns out that important deals and objects were sold privately and were at the same time subject to higgling and haggling while in the market there may be fixed prices and no higgling and haggling. Therefore everything we are teaching is empty talk. The main distinction is between the auction which is a market-type institution (there is only a demand crowd) and therefore we must distinguish between price-making and non-price-making markets. The {{Page \|n°=45}} latter are markets because supply and demand crowds are present. There may be transitional things such as controlled prices. (Rostovtzeff says all prices are controlled).

	Harry Pearson and Arensberg are agreed to make money the main subject and we have enormous money material which has not been used.		Harry Pearson and Arensberg are agreed to make money the main subject and we have enormous money material which has not been used.
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	My question: are ration coupons money?		My question: are ration coupons money?

	P: ~~… […]~~ [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]		P: we are not permitted to transmit them. They are a kind of operational device but not regarded as money, there is no possibility of circulation. They are a token but not the usual token of representing something else. It is a device but not money. [[#mw-page-base\|↑]]

	== K.P. on Writing ==		== K.P. on Writing ==