On Stipulative Definitions.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 00:47 4375 views 12 comments

I wanted to ask the moderators if they can be cognizant when seeing a thread about God or language, that a stipulative definition become clear. Instead of bogging down in straw men that are created from these stipulative definitions that might be professed unconsciously, then it needs to be made conscious that a definition differs from the original textbook definition of some term. As to how the definition differs from the original would be the main gist of the topic.

A lot of clarification is needed here. Sorry to bother, but I feel this is quite important in creating better threads.

Comments (12)

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:00 #221017 0 likes

Philosophy is chock to the brim with 'stipulated definitions', and context ought to make clear when they are in effect. I trust members to call people out who aren't clear about their use of words, and it's really not our job to chase people asking 'but what do you mean by such-and-such?'. If a thread is bad, it generally speaks for itself. Appreciate the thought though.

Besides, all definitions are stipulated definitions until people forget that they are.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:10 #221024 0 likes

Reply to StreetlightX

I don't know how to put it; but, stipulated definitions are a form of false notions of what the object of inquiry ( God forbid abstractions ) are.

I feel as though one is closer to the 'truth' if we do away with stipulated definitions of terms.

But, there's a serious conundrum with a stipulated definition. Which one is right and how can we evaulate or form a criteria to judge them?

Just some very pertinent questions to the matter.

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:12 #221025 0 likes

There is no such thing as a 'right' meaning. Unclear and odd, sure.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:15 #221027 0 likes

Quoting StreetlightX

There is no such thing as a 'right' meaning.

How so? Is this just postmodernism being professed here?

Quoting StreetlightX

Unclear and odd, sure.

Yes, that bugs me. So, what can be done about it?

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:17 #221028 0 likes

Quoting Posty McPostface

How so? Is this just postmodernism being professed here?

No, it's just basic language 101.

Quoting Posty McPostface

Yes, that bugs me. So, what can be done about it?

Ask people to clarify what they mean, obviously. This is just trivial communication etiquette, not some philosophical mystery.

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:20 #221031 0 likes

Anyway, I'm not here to debate this, this is your second thread on this topic, and if you aren't going to stick to addressing a particular mod-related line of inquiry here, I will merge any further discussion into your other thread.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:21 #221033 0 likes

Quoting StreetlightX

No, it's just basic language 101.

Not so basic if a great deal of confusion, ambiguity, vagueness comes about.

Quoting StreetlightX

Ask people to clarify what they mean, obviously. This is just trivial communication, not some philosophical mystery.

Ambiguity, vagueness, and uncertainty about terms is surely a philosophical issue, no?

Clarifying them is the job of the philosopher. Kind of reminiscent of treating philosophy as linguistic therapy.

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:25 #221036 0 likes

In this context it's usually a people-being-bad-at-communicating issue.

Don't ascribe to philosophy what you can put down to incompetence.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:30 #221038 0 likes

Quoting StreetlightX

In this context it's usually a people-being-bad-at-communicating issue.

So, then a philosopher ought to improve how we communicate? Does that sound right?

Quoting StreetlightX

Don't ascribe to philosophy what you can put down to incompetence.

No, it's the other way around. Philosophers are competent individuals in the art of communication. Therefore any "newbies" that join the forum and stipulate a definition based on some mystical experience or whatnot ought to be addressed with how the stipulative definition differs from the established definition.

Then, ambiguity, vagueness, and uncertainty can be mitigated through this method, and a real discussion can be held with the participant then.

Streetlight October 18, 2018 at 02:32 #221040 0 likes

Quoting Posty McPostface

Philosophers are competent individuals in the art of communication.

Oh sweet summer child.

If you think a thread is not good, report it.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:33 #221041 0 likes

Reply to StreetlightX

What do other mods think? You seem to have some underlying prejudice against what I'm professing. That's fine.

Shawn October 18, 2018 at 02:41 #221045 0 likes

I want to just be clear that I'm not for reporting threads and deleting them or such. The point should be to restructure or give form to some discussion by alleviating false notions derived from some stipulated definition.

That's all.