You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
Addressing the complex relation between our theory and our technique, the Richards' paper focuses on two questions: (1) are there technical consequences to a theory, and (2) can theories be compared. Judging from their paper, their answer would most likely be a definite “yes” to the first and a cautious “perhaps” to the second.
The Richards assign themselves the mammoth task of examining not one but three or four competing systems of thought. As a consequence, the authors are obliged to compress and simplify what are really most difficult issues. This is especially apparent in their description of the Kleinian point of view. They proceed by assembling bits and pieces from multiple and complex papers written by analysts at very different periods of evolution of the doctrine. Moreover, the papers are by authors who differ widely both in their adherence to the tenets of the Kleinian point of view, and in their technical approach.
The Richards also bypass the question of style as an intermediary between a theory and its technical consequences. Technique is very much influenced by the analyst's style and character, which can be