Sociology

A sociologically significant day. Finally took the time to read on some basic sociology, and I am eager to do it for real now! Fascinating stuff, that...the examination of people and societies in relation to each other. How society is a human construct, but not under human control. Today, read sociological texts that seemed to examine (at least if I'm reading them rightly) reality-constructs, separate and isolating perceptions, the problem of sympathy, the problem of communication, and the concepts of self. Most interesting things read today - society is simultaneously the compelling force and the means of transformation, as well as the end result of that process. In a rather striking example, this guy said that the statement "We make a society" is flawed, because the grammar imposes a distinction between "we" and "society", which is not true. In effect "society" is at the same time the subject, the verb (method of change) and object of the sentence; it is a process that contains itself in its entirety (if that makes any sense at all). Thus, we have "society societies a society".

Also things about the conception of a self, or more accurately, the conception of multiple "selves" that make up "my self". In effect the guy was showing how in decision making and social interactions we have to put ourselves in other people's shoes to anticipate what they'll do and think in response to what we do and think. So within our conscious space, there's our selves, who do the planning to act, and these other selves which are tools through which we can see ourselves from the perspective of other people, and thus can refine our plans on how to act in order to make them more amenable to our actions. A bit complex, this idea. Basically "self" is an agglomeration of all these different perspectives that we continually assume in order to assess our own actions. There may be a fallacy in here, in that I don't think it's possible for a "self" as an entity to observe itself, just as some parts of our bodies are naturally invisible to us. So perhaps it's more accurate to visualise it as a super-"self" observing the possible results of interactions between a "self" that we present to other people, and the "selves" that other people present to us.

What an indulgent afternoon it was, in the library reading sociology and altogether taking a holiday from thinking about lit and history and all that stuff. And was rather proud of Pui Man too, who was making her first attempt at reading law books. Hmm...I'm still not convinced that law is really what she wants to do, but if she can stand reading those formidable tomes and make herself like it, I guess she can carve out a niche in the world of law. Anyway she can start looking like an academic easily =P Also was rather impressed to see lots of secondary school kids in the library, actually delving into the kind of material that I would never have dreamed of touching before coming to JC. Heavy-duty history texts that we're reading now for A level, and even some people looking at sociological stuff that is so technical that I wouldn't approach them at this point. Heh, maybe it's just a case of their choosing their materials wrongly, but still, it was rather impressive to see people in uniform prowling the plentiful shelves.

Interesting, too, was the MFA meeting this morning. What a strange situation to be in...people frankly admitting to each other that they are out to bamboozle each other. From a sociological point of view it is deeply fascinating. Such labyrinths of logic, perception, argument and misdirection that so many deceiving conversationalists can tie themselves into. What do you end up with when everyone knows that it is in everyone else's interests to lie? I'm not sure if any effective communication took place at all. Without some trust on some level, what basis is there for useful common understanding?

I have to say the 2PS is a very formidable character. Viciously cutting, very sharp, and bitterly "skeptical", to use his word. The power and quickness of that man's mind is astounding to watch. It is also very scary because you know there is great power there, and you also know you cannot control it or influence where it's directed against. And his frankness and pragmatism is amazing by the very virtue of its intensity. I'm not saying that makes him a nice guy. But that level of frankness...wow. I wonder what it takes to get to the position in which you can even afford to be that frank.

Heh, after that, lunch at Wisma was a relief. There's a cool new foodcourt there, really quite nifty. I like the concept...not because of the old-town charm, but because the attempt to import an old town's food street into a shopping centre gives rise to such comic and cute effects. It's like eating in a cartoon set. Anyway...was having lunch with Pui Man and Jiaxin, and it was refreshing, after all these weeks of nonstop Humans work, to talk to science people again. Mmm...it's not so much a grounding in the real world that they gave me today, but more like a chance to switch channels and think in terms of a scientist. A spot of mental exercise to freshen up the old intellectual muscles. Just like I think I'll have to do some real exercise soon, before my body starts to fall apart...

Mmm...Cambridge admissions stuff coming up. Just tried out the TSA, and it's an interesting test. Requires too much mental sums, I think, and there was a problem that involved cooking at the end of the test that I thought was unfair to males =P I only hope that I have the stamina to sit through the real thing on Sat. And interview on Wed turns out to be with this guy who appears to be a doctor...as in, a medical doctor. Emma College's admissions tutor, to boot. I wonder what on earth he'd be asking me...I have the feeling that I'll have to develop a case to defend SPS against a medic's skepticism.

pondered by phoenican @ 20.10.05