Thinking Dialectically, Considering Dichotomically

Zekun Chen
Section A01

ASA 2 Blog #1

“Nothing Is More Important Than Thinking Dialectically” by Grace Lee Boggs reflects differences of involving in social movements in different parts of parameters. This passage presents the idea to readers that they should emerge in two dimensions of thinking while viewing at any current issue. For instance, as claimed by Boggs, factors that contributed to development in the past are not the same as those at present. Boggs also leads us to look at both sides of the oppressor and those who are oppressed. These contents introduce the dialectical thinking in terms of people’s roles in the social development. Meanwhile, Boggs comes to a discussion that that today, the oppressed people should embrace some changes as they have been continuously exposed to the oppressor’s values and messages via media. Furthermore, this reading also brought out the significance self-questioning. For example, the reading listed out a question such as “What can we do to live simply so that others can simply live?” Although dialectical thinking requires the ability and awareness of thinking in multi-dimensions, it is important to notice that such a thinking methodology will help people understand more in depth of the ever changing proper of a successful social movement.

Question: Will there be any situations which people who think dialectically might hamper their activities in social movements?