The Editor, Sir:

Ian Boyne continues with his vulgar and shameless practice of distorting what is being said on the Caribbean Dialogues online forum. Take for instance, the following statement from his piece, "Socialism not the answer" (The Sunday Gleaner, June 7).

"But Trevor Campbell has no patience for such nuances and deep philosophical thinking, for it interferes with 'historical necessity', his faith in the 'End of history'. Like Lenin, in 'What is to be done?' he wants a utilitarian programme. To hell with philosophy! The social classes don't need philosophy; they need praxis, urges Campbell."

actual response

Here is what I actually said in response to a commentary from Kamau Chionesu:

"As you are well aware, I distribute a number of articles on this forum, daily, that describe the changes that are taking place in each sector of the global capitalist economy - in the context of the ongoing economic restructuring - as a way of laying the basis for an objective discussion of the options facing the various social classes in Jamaica and the Caribbean. However, it has been very difficult to get individuals, such as yourself, to focus on this very concrete issue and to speak in a clear and accessible language about this matter. You seem much more secure expending an enormous amount of energy talking about a bunch of socially irrelevant academic philosophers.

"Quite frankly, this is not providing us with any insight whatsoever into how the social classes in Jamaica/Caribbean are reproducing themselves, in light of the current economic crisis and the restructuring.

"I am going to ask you - with a slight modification - the same question that I posed to Pastor Boyne: what are the profound insights that the respective social classes could benefit from by taking a course in contemporary academic philosophy; and also, in what specific ways would this course prepare them to meet the economic, social and political challenges posed by the realities of globalised capitalist production? In other words, how would it help them to understand the contradictory aspects of increased integration of Jamaica into the world economy and why it is necessary to facilitate the development of or attract mega-corporations in order to deepen this process of integration?"

Boyne seems to have major difficulties understanding the relationship between philosophy and social practice, or why philosophical clarity (aided by a scientifically sound research methodology) is a critical component of the process of seeking practical solutions to the challenges of everyday life. When we free philosophy from any practical concerns with life's daily challenges, we are essentially giving carte blanche to aimless speculation, and idle and useless chatter.

Relevance

I was simply asking Kamau to explain to us how the theories of those academic philosophers with whom he was preoccupied would assist the respective social classes in Jamaica and the Caribbean in meeting the economic, social and political challenges posed by the realities of globalised capitalist production.

Is this too great a request to make of an individual whom Boyne considers to be "the sharpest, most intellectually gifted thinker on the left"?

I am, etc.,

TREVOR CAMPBELL

tcampbell@eee.org