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CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: June 6, 2001
Latest update: November 19, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

Transforming Discourse Readings
Week of November 19, 2001: Week 13

• Online Readings:

  • applied sociology Which "Applied Sociology?" By S. M. Miller, who wrote with Alvin Gouldner. A teaching essay by itself.

  • from the textChe Guevara, Paulo Freire, and The Politics of Hope: Reclaiming Critical Pedagogy By Peter McLaren.

• Hardcopy Readings:

  • Che Guevara, Paulo Freire, and The Pedagogy of Revolution, By Peter McLaren

  • p. 75. Che's model of revolutionary man and it's difference from that of the Soviet union. "It is important to note that Che rejected in no uncertain terms the model of man developed in the soviet model for the building of socialism. In fact, Che did not view Soviety society as qualitatively different from capitalist society, but rather as a 'statized imitation of bourgeois consumer society."

• Theoretical Concepts You Should Know:

  1. socialism: "Socialism: Latin: socius = friend or comrade. A system of production where the state holds title to most means of production while decisions are made by a central planning unit on behalf of the entire society and to the advantage of the entire society. "Socialism" is often used when one means communism; one says socialism in order to deflect coercion and to avoid emotional resistance to a point. (See Communism). Because socialism is akin to state capitalism (which see) it is held to a good deal more respectable in the USA than is communism." From TR Young's Critical Dictionary of Sociology.

  2. volunteer labor: At p. 75: "He saw volunteer labor as an important ingredient in breaaking down elitist outlooks among professionals and intellectuals---teaching them how the surplus that provided for cultural activity was generated."

  3. the elimination of individualism: At p. 75: "Individualism tomorrow should be the proper utilization of the whole individual at the absolute benefit of the community."

• Some Suggested Measures of Learning:

  Comment on one of the following topics, or do something of your own choosing.

  1. Explain why Che saw Soviet Communism as much like US capitalism.

     Consider Che's definition of "eliminating individualism." What would Che have wanted to build? Consider what Che means by "community."

  2. Freire revolutionalized Brazil by educating the peasants. Does this fit with Che's view of education?

     Look particularly at p. 74: "On the one hand, society acts [to re-educate] with its direct and indidrect education/ and on the other, the individual submits himself to a conscious process of self-education."

  3. Should applied sociology include sociological counseling? How would that be different from the present day orientation of psychological counseling?

     Consider Vance Peavy's approach in Thinking Out Loud On a More Abstract Level. Look also to his site for some answers: The SocioDynamic Counseling Website: A Constructuvust Perspective

  4. Does applied sociology play a role in transforming discourse?

     Consider that the whole purpose of transforming discourse is to change the dominant discourse in positive ways. Relate this to Miller's article.