VAGUENESS! Another important source of confusion in real life Chapter 3; third part of 3.
Dec 17, 2015
VAGUENESS!Another important source of confusion in real life
Chapter 3; third part of 3.
YOU: Dr. Teacher, Dr. Teacher! I missed class! What’s the reading assignment?
DR. TEACHER: Read a lot.
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“Read a lot????” That’s pretty vague.
A statement is too VAGUE when it lacks enough detail for our purposes.
A judgment call.But reasonable people agree that “Read a lot” is too vague for a reading assignment.
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Which is more vague?
Jeremy turned his ankle.Jeremy turned to religion.
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Which is more vague?
Oswald was dealt a full house. Oswald is not playing with a full deck.
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Which is more vague?
My car turns on a dime. These scales turn on a hair.
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In your judgment, is the italicized term too vague given the implied context?
“I’d just like a regular haircut, please.”
There is no “correct” answer, BUT:Seems pretty vague to this teacher.
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In your judgment, is the italicized term too vague given the implied context?
“If you get ready for bed quickly, Mommy has a surprise for you.”
Seems just right, no?
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Too vague given the implied context?
“Let’s have a little less noise, for God’s sake! I’m trying to sleep!!”
Seems just right!
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Too vague given the implied context?
“To avoid unsafe levels of carbon monoxide, do not set the wick on your kerosene stove too high.”
Seems pretty darn vague.
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Too vague, in your opinion?
“Nothing short of total victory is acceptable in Iraq.”
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Too vague given the implied context?
“War on Terrorism”
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Anything wrong with any of these?
“Today we face a crisis in higher education.”
“What should be done about immigration?”
“In this company, you need to be creative. You need to think outside the box.”
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If a term is too vague or is ambiguous or is otherwise unclear, what you need is what?
E.g. Define “total victory.” What do you mean by “too high”? What is a “regular haircut”?
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A definition.
The text discusses three types of definition. The main point is to do whatever it takes to make a concept clear.
But one type of definition deserves special attention…
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“What is a conservative? I’ll tell you what a conservative is. A conservative is a hypertensive hypocrite who believes in telling people what kind of sex life they should have.”
This is called a “rhetorical definition.” Its real purpose is not to define, but to influence attitudes.
More later!
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Good habit: Always ask questions like:
“What do you mean by _____?”“I’m not sure I understand what you
have in mind when you say _____.”“Could you clarify a bit ? What is a
______?”“Could you define _______?”
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But… you want to define the appropriate term:
From a Peanuts cartoon:
LINUS: Fat? I’m not fat!
LUCY: Of course you’re fat… Look at that stomach!
LINUS: Define “stomach”!
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Review of Chapter 3:
Semantic ambiguitySyntax ambiguityGrouping ambiguityVagueness: a matter of degreeRhetorical definition
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