sublimation

 Sublimation

 Another technique for fending off suffering is the employment of the displacements of libido which our mental apparatus permits of and through which its function gains so much in flexibility. The task here is that of shifting the instinctual aims in such a way that they cannot come up against frustration from the external world. In this, sublimation of the instincts lends its assistance. One gains the most if one can sufficiently heighten the yield of pleasure from the sources of psychical and intellectual work. When that is so, fate can do little against one. A satisfaction of this kind, such as an artist’s joy in creating, in giving his phantasies body, or a scientist’s in solving problems or discovering truths, has a special quality which we shall certainly one day be able to characterize in metapsychological terms. At present we can only say figuratively that such satisfactions seem ‘finer and higher’. But their intensity is mild as compared with that derived from the sating of crude and primary instinctual impulses; it does not convulse our physical being. And the weak point of this method is that it is not applicable generally: it is accessible to only a few people. It presupposes the possession of special dispositions and gifts which are far from being common to any practical degree. And even to the few who do possess them, this method cannot give complete protection from suffering. It creates no impenetrable armour against the arrows of fortune, and it habitually fails when the source of suffering is a person’s own body.¹

 ¹ When there is no special disposition in a person which imperatively prescribes what direction his interests in life shall take, the ordinary professional work that is open to everyone can play the part assigned to it by Voltaire’s wise advice. It is not possible, within the limits of a short survey, to discuss adequately the significance of work for the economics of the libido. No other technique for the conduct of life attaches the individual so firmly to reality as laying emphasis on work; for his work at least gives him a secure place in a portion of reality, in the human community. The possibility it offers of displacing a large a mount of libidinal components, whether narcissistic, aggressive or even erotic, on to professional work and on to the human relations connected with it lends it a value by no means second to what it enjoys as something indispensible to the preservation and justification of existence in society. Professional activity is a source of special satisfaction if it is a freely chosen one - if, that is to say, by means of sublimation, it makes possible the use of existing inclinations, of persisting or constitutionally reinforced instinctual impulses. And yet, as a path to happiness, work is not highly prized by men. They do not strive after it as they do after other possibilities of satisfaction. The great majority of people only work under the stress of necessity, and this natural human aversion to work raises most difficult social problems.

from S.Freud 1926 'Future of an Illusion'

Teacher's day

 

 

‘To be a teacher does not mean simply to affirm that such a thing is so, or to deliver a lecture, etc. No, to be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner, put yourself in his place so that you may understand what he understands and the way he understands it “
- Soren Kierkegaard, the point of view for my work
as an Author (1848)

I think Studentship is the first task of a teacher. Let me get into the exploration of the concept of teacher first. Teacher is popularly known as “Guru”. The word 'Guru' means someone who leads us towards the light or path to tranquillity and rationality. The advent of the person named 'teacher' takes place at the stage after family socialization in our social lives. It often associates with us throughout our life as we always need someone for guidance and to look up at the time of crisis and time of uncertainty.

'Happy Teachers Day' to the teacher community across the globe. In the 21st century especially in the context of an emerging globalised society , Knowledge society great responsibility are on teachers  whose duty is to mould the character and mind of new generation
For me, the place of teachers is significant in nurturing the minds, bridging the gaps in our ideas, providing an unending support day night, the very anger of our teachers has a positive impact on our overall well being, that unsaid expectations related to our future prospects. For me, a good teacher is like a candle it consumes itself to light and way for others. The sacrifice of my teachers was visible in its realistic form; the moment I found myself standing at the same central stage at the age of 25 when I started my teaching career. It is not only about memorizing Dr Sarvpille Radhakrishnan  on this celebrated day. As every day; the contribution of millions of teachers has made the education system progress in a healthy and prosperous manner. It's not only celebrating some famous names on a single day rather celebrate the education that has been imparted to us in every possible manner through the hard work of teachers.

I am thankful for whatever I have achieved in my life is because of the bond of the teacher-student community maintained at school, college, and university level. I can see my teachers and feel that proud through their eyes for me and my hard work that keeps me going.

For my students; I just wish to advise you be patient , critical and tolerant; be unique and have faith in yourself; life has many ups and downs and the one who never gives up and always try to do things in whatever resources they are holding in their respective hands will go long way; have respect for your identity and reflect yourself in your passionate dreams rather imitating others.

As far as qualities of the teacher are concerned. A teacher needs the ability to command over his subject at the one hand and to convey its essence to students on the other. He is able to translate theoretical knowledge, scientific approach, good judgment, practical knowledge, and wisdom into a significant knowledge of a subject that is fully understood by the student. To be a teacher  is to have some skills such as Patience, passion, up to date information, situational analysis, positive attitude, strong control over class room, a professional reader and good evaluator.

For me to be a teacher is to inspire students to be critical and curious. My teaching is more about suggestions rather than dogmatizing the mind of students. Teacher is the maker of humans. He is entrusted to impart to the pupils under his charge, not only that but he has to be insightful about the pupils to whom it is teaching and training. A good teacher is the one who acts as a field worker in the educational programme , Willing to perform for the benefit of the learner is the ultimate goal of the teacher.

 

I value students’ centered approach in teaching. Being a teacher  I believe that The role of a professional educator, like any other professional, eliminates love, hatred, blind faith, submissive attitude, emotional, and personal elements from the classroom, especially today when casteism, capitalism, racism, sexism in its many forms, bullying, social class distinctions, etc., can be so disruptive to a particular cooperative setting.

For my friends; who always act like a teacher and mother for my actions and always supporting me for the things I am scared of and raising my interest in unexplored zones of life.
I love u all and please take good care of yourself; the world indeed needs you all. 
I am going to end talk  with a beautiful quotation of cicero
‘History is truly the witness of times past, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the
messenger of antiquity, whose voice, but the orator’s, can entrust her to immortality?’

Happy Teacher’s day.

 Religion says "Love thy neighbour as thyself". 

Social Science identifies the empirical barriers to realizing said religious normativity. So it attempts to define terms very precisely, ("love", "neighbor", "thyself") in order to empirically test whether people are living up to the "Great Commandment".

So for example, it is easy to cherry-pick Bible quotes that reinforce your particular prejudices, that make it impossible to love thy neighbor as thyself. 

I want to suggest is that the relationship between stateless communism and capitalism, is former is social/political realization of when empirical level and normative level of "love thy neighbour" are the same thing. Is statements = Ought statements. Whereas the latter (Capitalism) is at best an indifferent attitude towards one's neighbour (fetishization of self-interest alone/rugged individualism...) and at worst cultivates major outbreaks of "hatreds" to neighbours who are imagined to be "different" than "thyself". 

And I also think that what Class Ideology takes the form of treating "normative statements" like love, as if they were empirical statements under capitalism, which cannot actually realize the critical normative objectives of a "religion of love". So this is what enables people to believe that their hatreds constitutes forms of love, as in domestic violence dynamics (as in the song "He hit me and it felt like a kiss")

 lecture on Globalization / sociology of Globalization 

https://youtu.be/p-TwUMDoFuo

 Lecture on Globalization ( Part 2) 

https://youtu.be/LpOlVbCrHM8

 Lecture on Globalization part 1 

https://youtu.be/tYDHgH_pAc0

Cultural contradiction - Daniel Bell

 Daniel Bell's 1976 "Cultural Contradictions"

Bell begins with a description of consensus between economic, political and cultural forces which are unraveling. The bourgeois economic values of functional and technocratic roles are opposed by cultural values of art and religion, which Bell calls demonic, have resulted in a battleground between the hedonistic middle classes, by which he means conspicuous mass consumers and the working classes armed with concepts of equality and participation have turned adversarial. This situation resonates with Marcuse's economic writings on waste production and waste consumption of useless mass-produced goods and the production of new needs for these markets. Roger Mudd stated in 'The Selling of the Pentagon," 1971, that the middle classes avoided the draft by either going to college or applying for a psychiatric disqualification! 

Bell does not address the nature of the polity. He does not compare different governmental agencies nor depict them in a contest. There is no sense of a conflict between military personnel and bureaucrats; the divided nature of political parties does not implicate the displacement of military veterans by politicians, nor of bureaucrats by military veterans. Bell's unraveled consensus between the economic, the political or parties, and culture has caused the emergence of modernity, or a preoccupation with self-fulfillment, individuality and anti-rationality. The latter referring to instrumental success oriented purposiveness, not apparently to substantive rationality! But, this recourse to modernity does not address the more radical concerns of postmodernity, the sociology of science or technocratic consciousness. Comparing Bell's unraveled consensus to more radical models of social change, namely, ideology, discipline and leadership, indicates that issues of social class discipline, of the relation of party ideology to military and police operations and to the integrity of leaders implies the the problem of cultural contradictions (note not economic contradictions or contradictions in decision-making) is not solved by a new public philosophy.  Bell wants to turns the 'cultural' around to dovetail with political and economic priorities and responsibilities. Thus he is conservative. He does not want to take up the problem of death by government, of government terror. Instead, he has offered a roundabout argument for setting household arrangements and budgets straight, preferably by restricting credit!

"The characteristic style of an industrial society is based on the principles of economics and economizing: least cost, maximization, optimization, and functional rationality. Yet, it is at this point that it comes into sharpest conflict with the cultural trends of the day, for the culture emphasizes anticognitive and anti-intellectual currents which are rooted in a return to instinctual modes. The one emphasizes functional rationality, technocratic decision-making, and meritocratic rewards. The other, apocalyptic moods and anti-rational modes of behavior. It is this disjunction which is the historic crisis of Western society. This cultural contradiction, in the long run, is the deepest challenge to the society." Bell, D. "The Cultural Contradictions of Capital," 1972. The 1976 text is a series of articles emanating from this one.

The basic contradiction is between the social system and the culture. Another way of saying something similar is that there is a contradiction between the Constitution and the the beliefs of the people, e.g. hate and evil. And another way of saying this is that there is a contradiction, an opposition between positivist rationality and substantive rationality, as well as within substantive rationality.