I have to say that this is not the way in which I read it, although I accept that it could be read in that way; this is perhaps where some of the misunderstanding of my position via-à-vis this may have arisen. It seems to me to be far more concerned to "make an easy target of" certain commentators who name-drop and write extensive footnoes of the suspect kind to which you drew attention than to "make an easy target of" those philosophers and writers themsleves who, it seems to me, are treated as objects rther than subjects in this kind of exercise;
You know, I'd be prepared to have a serious discussion with you on this subject if anything would suggest that you have actually read much of the stuff you like to pronounce upon at every opportunity. It comes across more like anything with long words, or which deals with complex contemporary philosophical issues, is something you deeply fear and are threatened by, and need to denounce whenever you can.
Here you go again - "the stuff (I) like to pronounce upon at every opportunity"; what does it take to get you to understand that these so-called "pronouncements" are, for the most part, replies to the posts of others, rather than the kind of determined efforts on my part that you seem hell-bent on ascribing to me to rake it all up without prior invitation? I do not know and the extent to which you allow me to try to care is rapidly evaporating, I'm afraid...
I didn't start this thing, of course, but I likewise take leave to doubt that the person who did so had any intention of firing some kind of broadside against those philosophers and writers.
I'm quite sure they did (as does Sokal).
OK - so that's the way that you read this kind of thing - and that is, of course, your prerogative, just as it is mine to read it as though someone who thought it up is trying to have a dig at the suspect researchers rather than at those figures whose work they (really or purportedly) have a tendency to cite. I may be wrong in my take on this, but that nevertheless IS my take on it in general terms, right, wrong or otherwise.
Best,
Alistair
