NationStates Jolt Archive


Vague words people use a lot

Uber Awesome
22-11-2005, 23:00
There are words that get thrown around a lot, but without any clear definition. Like "meaning", e.g.

"What is the meaning of life?"
"If God didn't exist life and the universe would be meaningless"

What is this "meaning"? Is it "purpose", i.e. "do life and the universe exist for a purpose?" If so, why not just say "purpose". What are people trying to convey with that word? Do they even know?

I'm sure there are other words like this.
Zanato
22-11-2005, 23:32
Osmethne.
Uber Awesome
22-11-2005, 23:40
words people use a lot

:rolleyes:
Vetalia
22-11-2005, 23:42
Truth. Think about it; truth cannot be defined in language terms, but only as the opposite of fiction.
Uber Awesome
22-11-2005, 23:52
Truth. Think about it; truth cannot be defined in language terms, but only as the opposite of fiction.

Of course, people usually agree on whether something is truth or fiction if they personally witnessed the event.

Logical truth can be described as that which does not imply contradiction, but to understand what a contradiction is, you have to understand what truth is, since a contradiction is the statement that the same thing is both true and false.
Undelia
22-11-2005, 23:54
Honor. I mean can anybody define honor, outside of Japan?
“Honor the troops” what does that really mean. Nothing.
Honor’s dead and I’m glad it is.
Argesia
22-11-2005, 23:56
Identity.
Uber Awesome
23-11-2005, 00:00
Identity.

Yes, "identity" certainly is used vaguely, though a useful definition is that it is a set of characteristics that make it possible to tell one thing from another. Of course, that would mean that one person could have multiple identities...
Eruantalon
23-11-2005, 00:02
Honor. I mean can anybody define honor, outside of Japan?
“Honor the troops” what does that really mean. Nothing.
Honor’s dead and I’m glad it is.
Caculating, rational, Objectivist log! ;)
Misunderestimates
23-11-2005, 00:02
Destiny.
Vetalia
23-11-2005, 00:07
Of course, people usually agree on whether something is truth or fiction if they personally witnessed the event.

Logical truth can be described as that which does not imply contradiction, but to understand what a contradiction is, you have to understand what truth is, since a contradiction is the statement that the same thing is both true and false.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but the idea is undefiniable because it is a fundamental axiom and to prove it would require the use of concepts which are built from truth. That's why "truth" cannot be proven in and of itself; other things can be proven to be true but the concept of truth cannot be.
Perkeleenmaa
23-11-2005, 00:09
"Everything". And "everybody". Everything can be "everything", and everybody can be "everybody". Over-use of these words has made then pointless in many cases. I could say "Everyone uses them for everything", but wouldn't actually mean that.

"Relative" and "relatively". "Relative" has three other words it must couple with to make sense: which object, which property, and which measure. Like, "People are small relative to Earth", where the object is "people", the property "small", and the measure "Earth". If you are too lazy, patronizing or unthinking to specify all of these, what you'll say is at best vague, and at worst 100% b.s. Like, both "people are relatively small" and "people are relatively large" are both strictly speaking correct, since you haven't told relative to what.

I hate it when people say "Everything is relative". D'oh! It's like the old kindergarten joke "What's the difference between a penguin? The other leg is longer than the other."
Uber Awesome
23-11-2005, 00:09
Yes, but the idea is undefiniable because it is a fundamental axiom and to prove it would require the use of concepts which are built from truth. That's why "truth" cannot be proven in and of itself; other things can be proven to be true but the concept of truth cannot be.

That's what I was implying with my statement. I just didn't use terms like "axiom", because I guessed that not everyone would know what an axiom is.
Eichen
23-11-2005, 00:24
Soon and later. When used, they're usually terribly inaccurate.
Uber Awesome
23-11-2005, 00:31
Soon and later. When used, they're usually terribly inaccurate.

Inaccurate? You mean subjective?
Gruenberg
23-11-2005, 00:34
Value.
Misunderestimates
23-11-2005, 01:11
New and improved

which is it? New? Or old and improved?