Project page: developing theory

With theories we explain why and how things occur as they do. We predict what is going to happen given the way things are. And we choose ways of acting to make things turn out in some way we desire.

Some theories are better for one or more of these purposes, worse for others. Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection, for example, explains very well, predicts barely at all and allows intervention of only a quite limited sort. Theories of the solar system, based on Newtonian gravity, not only explain but also allow us to prediction example where a planet will be on some day and even hour 50 years from now. Social theories generally explain, predict, and permit intervention, all to a degree, not with perfect confidence, but with enough to be much more useful than just winging it

--Michael Albert, "Radical Theory Instructional"

I am currently running regular workshops following the general structure of the Radical Theory Instructional. It's basically a course on developing theory from the ground up. The general goal is to raise all participants' ability (including mine) to develop and use theory to help them plan and act. The focus will be on developing theory for political/social activism but the skills involved are quite generally useful.

I'm no expert on these things, though I do have some experience I intend to share. The format will be a series of one- or two-hour meetings of a lecture followed by discussion and planning (the workshops will be planned through participant decisions).

Location: Room 1106 - Level 11, Central Library
Time: first meeting Wednesday, 3rd of August at 2 pm. Subsequent meetings to be arranged with interested parties.
Readings/other requirements: nothing required, but if you keep up with the notes it'll go much easier.