Andrew's point that "making that distinction" alone won't ensure a
change. But his response reveals more about why our interventions
don't work than about John's original statement.
Part of where we fail is when we fall into the trap of either/or
thinking or, worse IMHO, single cause thinking. John didn't imply
that the distinction _alone_ would do anything. I will assert that
the distinction alone _could_ originate a major change because we are
dealing with a complex adpative system (individual, team,
organisation) and a small change may have a large impact.
The main point seems to me to be exactly what John said, "The
distinction may be useful." It seems to me that the appropriate
response to such a statement is to explore how that might be so. I
read it as an offering rather than an assertion.
A deeper problem, I think, is the transformation of the language
without apparent awareness that it occurred. John didn't say
anything about "beliefs" (that I can remember). He said something
about suppositions and presuppositions. The distinction between
these and beliefs is significant. A "belief" exists only at the
assumption stage and does not cover all suppositions. It is a term
that implies far more than suppositions. The baggage of beliefs is a
limiting factor. The baggage includes strength of feeling and
attachment as well as something that is "deeper" and more meaningful
than mere suppositions.
I'd like to add something more to the possibilities of the
distinction that John invited us to consider - but I haven't
developed these far enough to be worthy of comment yet.
> Date: Fri, 23 Jun 1995 19:12:17 -0400
> From: Andrew Moreno <amoreno@cyberspace.org>
>
> John Warfield wrote:
>
> >It seems to me useful to make a distinction between "suppositions" and
> "presuppositions".
>
> Useful towards what purpose?
>
> Whether or not a person is aware or not aware of the beliefs they are
> operating from is sort of irrelevant. Making that distinction doesn't
> obscure the fact that their behaviour is directly related to their
> beliefs.
>
> I think that making that distinction is the beginning of being able to
> change those suppositions or presuppositions which usually result in
> changed behaviour. However, making that distinction will not change those
> beliefs. There needs to be something more to accomplish that.
-- Michael McMaster Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk