Toward community: A third position

Abstract

This essay addresses the insufficiency of modern science as the solution to the problems of human life. It is a critique of community theory and a constructivist proposal for a synthesis of the individuality and collectivity solutions to the Paradox of the One and the Many—designated as the Third Position. The Third Position is necessary for the postmodern period for there is a need to incorporate the goal of Equality (or Justice) into a paradigm based on Liberty and Fraternity. The Third Position is also called the Just Community. To achieve the development of the new position (paradigm), a location‐specific action research center is proposed based on the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory (Kelly, 1970). Two examples of action research are described: aqualitative project to develop community within a parish that has served to advance the theory of the Just Community, and aquantitative project of community‐level change‐monitoring of social indicators and the use of dynamic modeling as a way to understand and simulate local community processes. The Society for Community Research and Action is urged to take specific actions to explore the development of a Woods Hole community research laboratory.

Developing and applying concepts about community: Reflections from the field

“…Issues of power, responsibility, rights, justice, and compassion can then be addressed under a unifying central core-a "vision." It is suggested that this transformational dynamic (the third position of Newbrough, 1995) has the potential to address some of the unanswered questions about empowerment (Cowen, 1994, p. 168).…”

“…The models were developed as part of current, school-based, case-study material that focuses on preventing alienation for 10-to 14-year-old students. The first model furthers the theories of community as caring persons (Dokecki, 1992) in its third position (Newbrough, 1995) (Williams, 1992). This framework is then used to present a community-development application of the components of transformational community, extending the community concepts of McMillan and Chavis (1986) toward those similar to the empowerment-organizing features posited by Maton and Salem (1995), and the theoretical revisions of McMillan (1996).…”

Building a community-based research partnership: Lessons from the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne

“…Underlying these principles is the notion that investigators outside the community must establish a collaborative partnership with the Mohawk community in the process of conducting research studies. Newbrough's (1989Newbrough's ( , 1992aNewbrough's ( , 1992bNewbrough's ( , 1995 perspective on a paradigm shift which redefines the notion of "community" is relevant here. He noted that the postmodern view of community centers on justice and fairness in which the emphasis is on "equality," "fraternity," and "liberty."…”

Psychometric Properties on Lecturers’ Beliefs on Teaching Function: Rasch Model Analysis

“…Constructivism puts primary emphasis on the independence of the interpretation of each of their own experience and ways to build their lives and ideas (Newbrough, 1995;Roth, 1994;Gil-Perez et al, 2002;Mansour, 2009). However, before expecting lecturers to change their beliefs, they need to first be aware of them and then beliefs may be remained unconsciously (Crandall, 2000).…”