From Conversation and Communication, Joost A. M. Meerloo, M.D., 1952

THE RIDDLE OF SEMANTICS

Since Breal wrote his essay on semantics in 1897 and Lady Victoria Welby her book What Is meaning?, interest in semantics as a science has been constantly growing. Mathematicians and philosophers, especially, have led the struggle for pure words and terms. They consider a term �pure� when it has a common, unambiguous definition among the majority of people. Associated thoughts evoked by the term must be the same. Their thesis is that only through the use of pure terms is scientific discussion possible. This book tries to emphasize that understanding is always only approximate, it is made possible by multiple functions of communication, of which the pure semantic expression is only one.

Normally, people use the same words for different ideas and images, and they often use dissimilar terms to describe closely related—orsimilar—concepts. A confused discussion often results; hence, scientists strive to develop the usage of improved, more highly circumscribed terms. They hope, by establishing common denominators of understanding, to purify our expressions.

( page 79 )

Comment :   The above by a relatively sane psychiatrist, increasingly a rarity, can be noticed in the context of some other observations by the author which seem quite relevant.

I would question the �pure terms� business, this seems to be a private conclusion of Mr. Meerloo, not much harmful but vague (if not obscure).

Insofar as the �semantics� as a branch of philology goes, it has to do with the study of the meanings of words and that is a descriptive mode of proposition and not prescriptive.

Korzybski�s �general semantics� defined as a �theory of human evaluation and human orientation� ; this does clearly include striving for clarity of representations by means of words or symbols ; it also implies any kind of evaluation by a human being, of anything at all. �What is that to me� was the telling title of a paragraph by K in the early 1920�s.

The scientists �hope, by establishing common denominators of understanding, to purify our expressions� would seem more nearly exact, to �purify our expressions� could mean absence of errors introduced by the expressions themselves. (This is not �pure terms� and I do not know what �pure terms� might mean).

When �people use the same words for different ideas and images� identification might occur. Mr. Meerloo had apparently not got the somewhat opposite way of error which K had called �elementalism� — using different words for same (more or less) ideas and images — with the frequent error of supposing one is speaking about differences which are not actually found in the nature.

Etc.

One merely remarks there having been a somewhat reliable author and somewhat relevant ; some of his observations on the psychiatric problem seem very actual (2006).

WPT

 

MENTICIDE—THE WORD BECOMES a KILLER

In the beginning of 1950, the French magazine, �Esprit,� printed an inquiry among more than a hundred psychiatrists and psychologists regarding the possibilities of psychological intervention in an integrated individual. Is it possible through modern methods to change man�s mind in behalf of certain ideological systems? Can an individual�s spiritual freedom be stolen from him by certain techniques? To what extent has psychiatry progressed in the paradoxical task of co-operating with certain tyrannical political systems?

I don�t want to resume the interesting discussions here. Recent experiences during World War II and its aftermath have taught us that those possibilities exist indeed. The problems from a new challenge to psychiatry, and by coining the word �menticide� we must realize our position in this problem. German physicians became—often without sharp awareness—collaborators in Hitler�s crime of genocide. Not realizing the problem of menticide, we ourselves may one day become entangled in activities unworthy of a �free democratic psychiatry.� I do not like to use this expression but the facts are there.

From a psychiatric and psychoanalytic standpoint, there are many interesting problems involved. The question of mishandling of the transference; the use of transference in a criminal way; the problem of mass hypnosis; the question of the dangerous intelligent madman (les fous lucides); the technique of changing personalities (lobotomy, narcohypnosis, truth serum); the question of artificially provoked regressions with narcotics; mass intoxication through terror and panic; the sadistic impulses of the interventionists; and so forth.

However, in addition to these interesting scientific discussions, we encounter more directly political evils that force psychiatrists \to become aware of what they are doing. Since psychiatry has become more active, there is increasing danger that some of our activities will be taken over in the service of devious political aims.

( pages 149 - 150 )

Comment :   The �free democratic psychiatry� looks something of a bad joke nowadays — but the author clearly was neither a fraud nor a fool. The �increasing danger that some of our activities will be taken over in the service of devious political aims� was there ; and is there at the present writing.

Some few examples : the Brock Chisholm/Alger Hiss collaboration, and the former�s project of a psychiatric gulag in Alaska in the 1950�s.

Please remember, one of Lenin�s policies was, �Join them. Bore from within. Take control� (per J. Spolansky). That is entirely consistent with the observed composition of the psychiatric profession in the US since the 1940�s.; the infiltration of this profession might have begun earlier.

The latest news I have seen of the vein came from China, where, reportedly, some hundreds of thousands of �intellectually disabled� persons are envisioned to be �diagnosed� and included in the special Olympics (per a newspaper report which might be actually untrue (?) — but, whence any such ideas at all ? ).

Please note that neither �mental illness� nor psychiatry were known to China — before the 20th century.

* * *

I have not seen any direct connexion of this author with the G. S. scene other than his having read some books. (I am not saying there was no such connexion ; I simply do not know).

Among other titles, the bibliography (pages 240 � 245) contains :

CHASE, S.   The Tyranny of Words. New York: Harcourt,
      Brace & Company, 1939.

HAYAKAWA, S. J.   Language in Action. New York; Harcourt,
      Brace & Company, 1941.

KORZYBSKI, A.   Science and Sanity. New York: Int. Non-
      Aristotelian Pub . Company, 1941.

Conversation and communication;
a psychological inquiry into language and human relations.
New York : International Universities Press (1952) repr. 1958.

 

 

Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title De razende roes naar Nergenshuizen : brokkenmakers in het verkeer : een bijdrage tot de geestelijke hygiëne van het snelverkeer / J. A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Baarn : Bosch & Keuning, [1976] Format Book Library SRLF 4 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Een mond vol spijkers : een psycholoog op het oorlogspad / Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Wassenaar : Servire, 1975. Format Book Library SRLF NRLF 5 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Patterns of panic, by Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press [1974, c1950] Format Book Library GTU UCB 6 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title De taal van het zwijgen (gedachten over stille communicatie) door] Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Wassenaar, Servire [c1972] Format Book Library NRLF 7 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Spinoza en het probleem der communicatie / J. A. M. Meerloo Publisher Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1972 Series Mededelingen vanwege het Spinozahuis,28 Format Book Library UCSD 8 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Intuition and the evil eye. The natural history of a superstition. By Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Wassenaar : Servire, [1971] Format Book Library UCLA GTU UCB NRLF UCSF UCSD 9 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Along the fourth dimension; man's sense of time and history [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo. Illus. by Carl Smith. Publisher New York, John Day Co. [1970] Format Book Library SRLF UCLA UCD UCSC GTU UCI UCSB CSL UCSD NRLF UCR 10 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Lachen, dansen, rebellie. Beschouwingen over geestelijke besmetting. [Door] J. A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Assen : Van Gorcum, 1970. Format Book Library UCLA NRLF 11 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Delusion and mass-delusion / by A.M. Meerloo. Publisher New York : Johnson Reprint Co., 1969. Series Nervous and mental disease mongraphs, no. 79 Format Book Library UCSD UCSB UCD 12 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Suicide and mass suicide [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher New York : Dutton, 1968. Series Dutton paperback,D230 Format Book Library UCLA 13 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Delusion and mass-delusion / by A.M. Meerloo. Publisher New York : Johnson Reprint Co., 1968. Series Nervous and mental disease monograph series ;no. 79. Format Book Library UCSD GTU UCD 14 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Creativity and eternization; essays on the creative instinct [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo Publisher New York, Humanities Press, 1968 Format Book Library UCI 15 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Creativity and eternization. Publisher Assen, Van Gorcum, 1967. Format Book Library UCB UCSB UCD 16 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Creativity and eternization; essays on the creative instinct [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher Assen : Van Gorcum, 1967. Format Book Library SRLF UCB UCSD 17 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Mental first aid toward balance in a dizzy world [by] Joost A.M. Meerloo. Publisher New York : Hawthorn Books, [1966] Format Book Library SRLF UCLA NRLF UCSF 18 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903. Title Le suicide : essai sur un ph�nom�ne individuel et collectif (Suicide and mass suicide) / Traduit de l'am�ricain par R. Graulich Publisher Bruxelles, C. Dessart [1966] Series Psychologie et sciences humaines Format Dissertation Book Library SRLF CRL 19 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Transference and trial adaptation, by Joost A. M. Meerloo and Marie Coleman Nelson Publisher Springfield, Ill., Thomas [1965] Series American lecture series, publication no. 607. A monograph in American lectures in psychology Format Book Library UCSD UCSF 20 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Unobstrusive communication; essays in psycholinguistics Publisher Assen, The Netherlands, Van Gorcum, 1964. 21 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Unobtrusive communication; essays in psycholinguistics [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo Publisher Assen, The Netherlands, Van Gorcum, 1964 Format Book Library UCSD SRLF UCLA GTU UCB UCSF UCSC 22 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Hidden communion; studies in the communication theory of telepathy, by Joost A. M. Meerloo Publisher New York, Garrett Publications [1964] Format Book Library UCSB UCD SRLF UCLA UCSF UCR UCSC 23 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Illness and cure; studies on the philosophy of medicine and mental health [by] Joost A. M. Meerloo. Publisher New York, Grune & Stratton [1964] Format Book Library SRLF UCLA NRLF UCSF UCSB UCD UCR 24 Details/Locations Author Bergler, Edmund, 1899- Title Justice and injustice : the origin of the sense of justice and its relation to everyday life, the law, and the problems of juvenile delinquency and crime / by Edmund Bergler and Joost A.M. Meerloo. Publisher New York ; London : Grune and Stratton, 1963. Format Book Library GTU CSL UCLA SRLF UCSD UCD UCSF UCSB UCR UCB NRLF 25 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Suicide and mass suicide. Publisher New York : Grune & Stratton, 1962. Format Book Library SRLF UCLA UCD UCSD UCSF CSL GTU UCSB UCB UCR 26 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Suicide and mass suicide. Publisher New York : Grune & Stratton, 1962. Format Book Library SRLF UCLA UCD UCSD UCSF CSL GTU UCSB UCB UCR 27 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Dance craze and sacred dance [by] Joost A.M. Meerloo Publisher London, P. Owen [1962, c1961] Format Book Library SRLF UCLA GTU UCI 28 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title The rape of the mind; the psychology of thought control, menticide, and brainwashing Publisher New York, Grosset & Dunlap [1961, c1956] Format Book Library UCI UCSF 29 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title That difficult peace / by Joost A.M. Meerloo, M.D. Publisher Great Neck, N.Y. : Channel Press, c1961. Format Book Library GTU UCLA NRLF UCSB CSL UCR 30 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Uniform Title [ Dance craze and sacred dance] Title The dance, from ritual to rock and roll--ballet to ballroom. Publisher Philadelphia, Chilton Co., Book Division [1960] Format Book Library NRLF UCSC SRLF UCLA CSL UCSB UCI UCR UCSD 31 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Rhythmus und Ekstase : vom primitiven Tanz zum Rock'n Roll und modernen Ballett / Joost A. M. Meerloo ; [�bertragung in die deutsche Sprache von Fred Purley] Publisher Wien : Forum, c1959 Format Book Library UCI 32 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Alle leven danst; van primitieve dans tot rock'n'roll en modern ballet. [Vertaling: H. M. van Randwijk] Publisher Amsterdam, De Brug [1959] Format Book Library UCSD 33 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Conversation and communication; a psychological inquiry into language and human relations. Publisher New York, International Universities Press [1952, repr. 1958] Format Book Library GTU UCLA UCD UCB UCSD 34 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Mental seduction and menticide; the psychology of thought control and brain-washing. Publisher London, J. Cape, [1957] Format Book Library UCSC UCR 35 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title The rape of the mind; the psychology of thought control, menticide, and brainwashing Publisher Cleveland, World Pub. Co. [1956] Format Book Library UCLA GTU UCSD UCSC UCD CSL UCSB UCB 36 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title The two faces of man: two studies on the sense of time and on ambivalence. [by] Joost A.M. Meerloo. Publisher New York : International Universities Press, [1954] Format Book Library UCLA CSL UCD UCSF UCSB UCSD 37 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Conversation and communication; a psychological inquiry into language and human relations. Publisher New York, International Universities Press [1952, repr. 1958] Format Book Library UCLA UCD CSL UCB UCSD 38 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Patterns of panic. Publisher New York : International Universities Press, [1950] Format Book Library UCLA SRLF UCSC UCSD UCB UCI UCD UCSB UCR 39 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Delusion and mass-delusion Publisher New York, Nervous and Mental Disease Monographs, 1949 Series Nervous and mental disease monographs,no. 79 Format Book Library UCLA UCI UCSF UCB 40 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Aftermath of peace; psychological essays by A. M. Meerloo ... Publisher New York, N.Y. : International Universities Press, [1946] Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title De moeilijke vrede; de psychologie van enkele na-oorlogse problemen. Publisher Den Haag [1946] Format Book Library CRL 42 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Aftermath of peace; Publisher New York, N.Y., International universities press [1946] Format Book Library UCSB 43 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Total war and the human mind, a psychologist's experiences in occupied Holland, by Major A. M. Meerloo. Publisher [New York] International universities press, inc. [1945] Format Book Library UCLA UCD UCSF UCB 44 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Total war and the human mind, a psychologist's experiences in occupied Holland, Publisher [New York] International universities press, inc. [c1945] Format Book Library CSL UCSD UCSB UCSC 45 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Homo militans : de psychologie van oorlog en vrede in de mens. Publisher De Haag : Servire, 1964. Format Book Library NRLF 46 Details/Locations Author Meerloo, Joost Abraham Maurits, 1903- Title Het Web : van menselijke en sociale relaties. Publisher Den Haag : Servire, 1961. Format Book