Re: Self-unfolding? (was: Re: [ox-en] Free time)
- From: Graham Seaman <graham seul.org>
- Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 15:37:22 -0500 (EST)
On Sat, 15 Dec 2001, Stefan Meretz wrote:
Hi Graham and all,
Graham Seaman wrote:
>>Reading this, I was wondering how to put this important aspect of
>>free software freedom and self-unfolding in a short phrase and came
>>up with: "Free as in free speech, but also free as in free time,"
>>suggesting that
>>when self-unfolding, you (try to) spend your time in the way you
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> This is a picky little point away from the main issue, but is it
> possible to find a replacement for the word 'self-unfolding'? It
> sounds bizarre in English - I assume it means something like
> self-development, but it conjures up images of a piece of paper with
> a clockwork mechanism inside for me.
What the hell is a piece of paper with a clockwork mechanism inside??
Benja (B.Fallenstein) explained what I meant much better than I did
myself.
Thanks!
B>
Well, in german there is a problem too. We have two words: First
"Selbstverwirklichung" which is commonly used, and second
"Selbstentfaltung" which is explicitly used in Oekonux-Context replacing
the first one. I try to explain what we found out on the german list
(sorry for my rough english, help welcome...):
In a german dictionary "Selbstverwirklichung" is translated as
"self-realization" or more psychologically "self-actualization". The
meaning is make something real or bring something into existence what I
personally want. This is a quite normal an modern way to express myself.
It is the way like Bill Gates does etc. The key point is here: I only
can come forward if others don't. My self-realization means the
restriction of the self-realization of others. If I get a job others
don't. If I capture a market-share, others don't. And so on. This is not
result of a personal defect, it is an effect of our economical and
societal (social) structure. I can't go through life than this way. In
short:
**My assertion (get my way) neccessarily goes on costs of others.**
On the contrary to this "Selbstentfaltung" -- self-unfolding
(self-development?) -- means a completely different thing: I only can
come forward, can express myself, can be productive if others do the
same for themselfs. More sharper:
**The self-unfolding of others is a precondition of my self-unfolding.**
OK, now I understand - I didn't understand this before. 'Self-development'
doesn't have this meaning in English (I don't think it necessarily implies
restricting the development of others, but it certainly implies others
are irrelevant). But it seems a lot of meaning to be carried by a single
word. I don't think anyone new to this will understand the full meaning
of the word
'self-unfolding' without an additional explanation, and to me personally
the word 'self-unfolding' still sounds slightly comical. I don't know
how typical this is, so I hope someone else with english as a first
language will comment as well.
Now the question of the right word. I can not decide that, I don't have
a good "english speaking feeling". My question is: Feels
"self-development" for you more like the first (...on costs...) or like
the second explanation (...precondition...)? Maybe neither nor, because
nobody else think in a way we do in Oekonux;-)
Neither nor...
If "self-development" sound yuppie-like as self realization in new
economy, I would prefer a new unusual term e.g. self-unfolding. A new
term can be a provocation to lead one to some good questions. And it is
not out of world like the running dog metaphor, isn't it?
Not at all, I don't remember any of the slashdot readers commenting on it,
and if I remember correctly some actually used it themselves.
Graham
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