- Capitalism and Alternatives -

An Addenda

In Reply to: For Mr. Jacobson. posted by Red Deathy on December 03, 1999 at 14:23:53:

I need to explain what I mean by "tautological and non-empirical".

Most Historicists, in my experience, attempt to identify stage of history "A" by identifying particular phenomena, such as x, y & z. When asked why x, y & z occur they claim that such phenomena are produced by stage of history A. This is what we call equivocation.

Let's say we identify:
a) stage of history A = X
b) phenomena x, y & z = Y
c) so Y signifys X
d) and X signifys Y

This is what is known as a tautology. In other words, it claims precisely noting. And so it is non-falsifiable and thus non-empirical.

Follow Ups:

• A note. Red Deathy Socialist Party UK December 06 1999 (0)