Why

[Oz]

If the only basis for communicating anything is having a common loose definition in language (example - why is a tree a tree? why isn't a horse a tree?) and everyone is going to have a slightly different enterpretation of each word then how the hell can we honestly expect to achieve common goals that will completely satisy all parties?

For example, a common uniting goal is 'peace'. My definition of peace is people being accepting of my value system, whilst not neccesarily agreeing with them, and me being accepting of theirs so we avoid conflict. But there are a million other ways to define peace.

My head hurts.

[Jimster]

You've made my head hurt as well you dopey Aussie bastard


Just one of those things you never really worry about, I suppose.

[958Rocky]

Oz it sounds like your refering to tolerance more than peace.

Hmm I guess that didn't help much.

[SabreKhan]

Read Ludwig Wittgenstein. My undergraduate degree was in the philosophy of language. Here's a resource to answer all your questions about, "Why isn't a horse a tree?"
http://www3.baylor.edu/~Elijah_Beaver/wittyhome.html

[civicgrlco2005]

it's the abstraction ladder. s.i. hayakawa. the higher up a concept is on the abstraction ladder, the more vague and broadly defined it is. the underlying foundation of language is the process of abstracting. abstracting "is the selection, rejection, and regrouping of certain characteristics of word meanings to form a new, more encompassing meaning." the example hayakawa uses is a cow, Bessie, and what happens when we define it as a cow, livestock, etc. if i haven't bored you with my attempt at an explanation, u could check out http://thisisnotthat.com/gs/gs_litaa.html. so technically peace is a broad term that can mean many different things, and we need to bring it down the abstraction ladder to define what we really what it to mean.

[Fully_Sick]

you cant figure everything out, because where fuck all

thats my theory

[rwood13]

it is real simple Oz, do it my way and we'll get along just fine

[jerryred]

the big one why is a tree a tree and not a 57 chevy ?? why do I say this is the way I see it why cant you see it ? or why is the reply, you dont understand !! I feel this is where we get into who am I ? I may look at a honda with thousands of dollars under the hood and a sound system that could shake the paint right off it and say WHY! but to someone else it is a dream come true. I could pull up in my 1958 ford 300 turdor with a 1977 351m
and someone may say WHY! but there is a thread of comminality there so maybe we are are the same
YEA I KNOW WHAT THE ???

[lazysmurff]

it is depressing to know that there are as many meanings behind words as their are people. kinda.

however, what we do have is a general understanding (a catagorical sense, abstraction, whatever you want to call it). like, for instance, i point out "tree" and it happens to be an oak. you can abstract from that, that when you see a maple, it is also a "tree". same with pine and the like.

most of the problem lies in language being used too loosely. people lack the ability to correctly communicate what it is that they want to (whether it be their fault, or a fault in the language) and so depend on loose definitions to communicate.

not that any of this helps you. just my thoughts

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

it is depressing to know that there are as many meanings behind words as their are people. kinda.

most of the problem lies in language being used too loosely. people lack the ability to correctly communicate what it is that they want to (whether it be their fault, or a fault in the language) and so depend on loose definitions to communicate.

Indeed, quite true.
Our use, understanding and interpretation of language is strongly affected by our own personal experiences and differences. We understand things differently because, fundamentally we all are different, hence we all will have some difficulties in a full and complete understanding of others.
If we did not have such difficulties, it would mean we are all the same and so there would not be much point in communicating in the first place!
Vive la difference!

[klone420]

here's something to hurt your head somemore. Does everyone see colors the same? Exp: Is what I see orange, yellow to someone else? Or Is this Blue "my" green in your eyes? I know these answers its just something to think about for a sec.

[twospirits]

A perfect example would be just to look at a box of crayons. The basic colors are there, but there are other variations of the same type of color. Purple is purple, but others might see it as lavender, its all how one inteprets the meaning and since we are all different you are bound to have different answers.

TS out (getting more confused)

[klone420]

Originally Posted by twospirits

A perfect example would be just to look at a box of crayons. The basic colors are there, but there are other variations of the same type of color. Purple is purple, but others might see it as lavender, its all how one inteprets the meaning and since we are all different you are bound to have different answers.

TS out (getting more confused)

I'm not talkin about shade. I mean that If I looked at the sky I would see blue/So would you. The ? is maybe the blue I see is the color green,red,etc...In someone elses' eyes. Is the light that reflects off of the object being seen differently in others eyes(no colorblind). get what I'm sayin?

[sidewayzS13]

i used to think of this when i was like 6 but i finally dawned on me that there really is no real answer to any of this these are things that just are they are accepted and we can do nothing to change them

[rwood13]

You can never accept this as is, always question lest there be another Hitler ..... as far as the original thread, comunicating in the world today you have to consider where people are from, I work in the computer industry, I used to work on a national help desk, even in different parts of the US the same words have different meanings, you have to be clear in what you say, no slang (those of British desent listen up along with the younger generation) NO SLANG, your slang term for something your trying to explain may have no meaning to the person your talking to and what follows is total confusion ....... example, If I say I am going to the head, how many know what I am talking about?