One could say that the modernist turn shifted from contemplation and living the good life to a search for the Archimedean Point, or view from above that could determine Truth and Reality (capital T and R) in Essentialist ways, along with how we can produce what we can know, the latter concern ushered in by the modern scientific revolution.  Shifts in privileging empiricism and the pragmatic over theory and contemplation shifted into higher gears at this time. Do you think we arrived at an Archimedean Point, and, given your answer to this question, what difference has it made to how we do research, assessment and therapeutic care?

CRYSRALS RESPOND

When taking the Archimedean point into consideration, Scalambrino (2018) refers to Descartes and the Cogito. Descartes doubted and rejected most things that the world knew to be true and was adamant about finding a real truth that would be impossible to doubt- including his own existence-  While in the throes of his doubting, he came to the conclusion  doubting, actually requires thinking, which confirms his existence  because one must exist to think. This realization led him to his first concrete principle Cogito Ergo Sum: I think, therefore I exist.  This seems like this could have been his Archimedean point because this gave him something to believe in that he could actually confirm or hold onto in his mind.  Descartes believed we were  only thinking beings of mind and soul but doubted the reality of a body and  the dependability of the senses. His proof was based on his experiences with the senses while dreaming, that did not show up while he was awake ((Mohammed, 2012).

He ultimately concluded that  man (kind)  has  a mind, which is the thinking being, and there is the body which is an extension. Therefore we have two aspects of ourselves; spiritual and  material. Both are markedly different and can subsist independent of each other.

If we looked at this from a scientific point of view, according to Mohammed (2012) then it we would only believe that the physical things such as the body and brain are real, our thinking activities take place specifically in the brain, and when the brain dies we cease to stop thinking. The brain is the self.  From a spiritual  or soul perspective, if the brain is responsible for our consciousness, we would not cease to exist if the brain was in an unconscious state such as a coma, or even in cases of clairvoyance or telepathy.

From a more modern perspective, I am not so sure we have reached an Archimedean point because I think that thoughts and perspectives change with the times. Political, social, personal, and group constructs are always changing with the aim of searching for the truth.

Mohammed, A. (2012) A Critique of Descartes Mind-Body Dualism. Kritike V.6,1 95-112

Scalambrino, F. (2018). Philosophical principles of the history and systems of psychology: essential distinctions. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Veitch, V. ( Descartes, R). (1966),22. The Meditations Illinios. The Open Court Publishing Company,

Vesey, G. (1964). Body and Mind, (London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd