Posted by alexandra_k on March 27, 2013, at 22:12:38
In reply to Re: PT, posted by alexandra_k on March 24, 2013, at 22:38:25
i've been reading szasz... that guy is smart... it is too easy to mischaracterise him and ignore him... but i think he is onto something with that malingering business. needing help, yes. but MEDICAL help? not so sure...
the library here is FREAKING INTERESTING. it is bizarre... this was a technical / vocational college... that once upon a time asked the question `what do we have to do in order to become a university?' and so the powers that be told them a whole freaking bunch of stuff and, well, them being all practically minded and all, they got their *ss*s into gear (but don't dare tell them that) and bloody well did it.
then the powers that be went `oh, well, uh, we didn't quite expect...' and then i think they sued or something or other and whatever. the point is that nursing is a degree because people MADE it so... and once upon a time people freaking built this university. now they have very good research centers and very productive researchers. who fought their way forwards while others rested on their history and reputation. me likes. and so the library is interesting because it is very allied health focused and they don't offer medicine and insofar as their is a hierarchy (which of course there isn't because of the whole decentralisation of power etc etc etc business which is actually really quite interesting and most probably right) physio is the most competitive program.
hrm.
so the books are really interesting. a whole bunch of szasz and the like... and a whole bunch of `good luck to you' in finding anything since they haven't gone library of congress and are stuck back with dewey... so walking the shelves is fun and games. i tell you: fun and games.
the curriculum is surprisingly (to my mind) social science-y. i wasn't expecting that. i was expecting a whole lot of anatomy and physiology. not much in the way of `you are a beam of light. describe your journey from the sun to the cortex. marks for creativity'. but, what the hey, life would be fairly boring if we were all the same - yes?
(and what is the alternative - the view from nowhere?)
only... i do miss philosophy sometimes. individualism for the win. learning for learnings sake and no worries about such things as intellectual property and industry and trade secrets... dressing like a hobo and swearing your face off but:
well... szasz had something to say about how arguing with professional colleagues seems to have the feature that if you are wrong in your facts / reasoning they will point that out and win and if you are right in your facts / reasoning they will attack your character and question your mental health.
i guess your character and mental health are important to professional fields. more about the appearance of professionalism than the ethical conduct that sometimes lies behind the hobo appearance and the intellectual honesty to tell your superiors just how much they f*ck*d up.
i wasn't happy with philosophy... i wanted something more.
i got it.
hrm.
fun and games, i say. fun and games.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1038152
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20130223/msgs/1041233.html