Comments on: About http://www.devincontext.com The Case For Personal Growth Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:52:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.devincontext.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Chris Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:50:23 +0000 http://devincontext.com/?page_id=2#comment-184 Hi Haider -- I like that point about not needing to abandon the whole project just because there are some aspects of it we might not agree with -- just as we wouldn't say that philosophy or physics is useless because there are some philosophers or physicists we disagree with. Hi Haider — I like that point about not needing to abandon the whole project just because there are some aspects of it we might not agree with — just as we wouldn’t say that philosophy or physics is useless because there are some philosophers or physicists we disagree with.

]]> By: Chris http://www.devincontext.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Chris Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:48:30 +0000 http://devincontext.com/?page_id=2#comment-183 Hi Evan -- somehow I didn't see the comments here before, but in any event, perhaps it's true that personal development didn't need any defenders for a long time because it had no serious critics. Now that is changing, and perhaps now it could be said to "need" -- or at least benefit from -- serious defenders. Hi Evan — somehow I didn’t see the comments here before, but in any event, perhaps it’s true that personal development didn’t need any defenders for a long time because it had no serious critics. Now that is changing, and perhaps now it could be said to “need” — or at least benefit from — serious defenders.

]]> By: Haider http://www.devincontext.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Haider Sun, 04 Jul 2010 10:06:53 +0000 http://devincontext.com/?page_id=2#comment-178 Hi Chris, I think the topics you address in your blog are extremely important, since many "students" of personal growth choose to ignore criticisms of personal growth, when it's healthier to consider what's being said about personal growth, and incorporate it into our understanding of the subject, if the criticisms are valid. I've gone through phases when I didn't want to contribute to the field of personal growth because I felt like I was creating more noise, rather than contributing to the signal. I later realized that I can understand what I don't like about the field (e.g. bad advice, narrow-minded approach, etc), and offer an alternative. Just because there are negative traits or potential harms to personal growth doesn't mean we have to abandon the whole thing (which many critics seem to advocate). I look forward to many more thought-provoking articles from you! :D Hi Chris,

I think the topics you address in your blog are extremely important, since many “students” of personal growth choose to ignore criticisms of personal growth, when it’s healthier to consider what’s being said about personal growth, and incorporate it into our understanding of the subject, if the criticisms are valid.

I’ve gone through phases when I didn’t want to contribute to the field of personal growth because I felt like I was creating more noise, rather than contributing to the signal.

I later realized that I can understand what I don’t like about the field (e.g. bad advice, narrow-minded approach, etc), and offer an alternative. Just because there are negative traits or potential harms to personal growth doesn’t mean we have to abandon the whole thing (which many critics seem to advocate).

I look forward to many more thought-provoking articles from you! :D

]]> By: Evan http://www.devincontext.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Evan Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:30:07 +0000 http://devincontext.com/?page_id=2#comment-2 If you don't answer your critics, and will only talk to those in the club, this can build great authority (this was effectively the strategy of the western medical profession and the Freudians) - it's worked a treat. There is also the 'everything is what you believe it to be' line, so common in new age circles. So the critics are entitled to their perspective, which they've created. It is hard to see how critique could have a place in this perspective (and how it can avoid nihilism). I think what you plan to do is very important and much needed. Wishing you every possible success. If you don’t answer your critics, and will only talk to those in the club, this can build great authority (this was effectively the strategy of the western medical profession and the Freudians) – it’s worked a treat.

There is also the ‘everything is what you believe it to be’ line, so common in new age circles. So the critics are entitled to their perspective, which they’ve created. It is hard to see how critique could have a place in this perspective (and how it can avoid nihilism).

I think what you plan to do is very important and much needed. Wishing you every possible success.

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