Sunday, February 27, 2011
Factualism
I am currently starting to read "Gödel, Escher, Bach" by Hofstadter. In his forward to the 20th anniversary edition, he obsesses over the "sexism" in his use of the masculine pronoun as the generic pronoun for humankind. As he continued, I became irritated and at the same time flags went up to watch his reasoning. In his obsession it appeared that ideology overcame any sense of reason or allowance for usage.
On further reflection, it came to me that the PC concerns over the use of masculine pronouns for generic pronouns comes from an excessive insistence on reading everything literally/factually. In this regard it becomes related to both Fundamental Christianity and Evangelical Atheism, both of which rely on reading the words of the Bible exactly as the surface meaning indicates. I am coining a term for this "Factualism," defined as the insistence on reading any set of words as if the only meanings they are allowed to have are the surface definitions. This means that there can be no metaphorical or connotative meanings. In formal terms, only the denotative meanings are to be used.
Since the greatest part of human expression among people is connotative meaning, this is a good way to restrict communication and thinking, and impovrish our dialogs. It becomes a means to thought control a la "1984," where the denotative meanings become that which is defined by some central authority.
Assignment for the reader: how many other PC "rules" derive from factualism?
On further reflection, it came to me that the PC concerns over the use of masculine pronouns for generic pronouns comes from an excessive insistence on reading everything literally/factually. In this regard it becomes related to both Fundamental Christianity and Evangelical Atheism, both of which rely on reading the words of the Bible exactly as the surface meaning indicates. I am coining a term for this "Factualism," defined as the insistence on reading any set of words as if the only meanings they are allowed to have are the surface definitions. This means that there can be no metaphorical or connotative meanings. In formal terms, only the denotative meanings are to be used.
Since the greatest part of human expression among people is connotative meaning, this is a good way to restrict communication and thinking, and impovrish our dialogs. It becomes a means to thought control a la "1984," where the denotative meanings become that which is defined by some central authority.
Assignment for the reader: how many other PC "rules" derive from factualism?
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Oh for a President with guts
Actually, a slightly lower part of the anatomy would be more accurate. However, he is lacking in both.
We are treated to the spectacle of an American for whom we claim diplomatic immunity being tried for murder in a Pakistani court for defending himself against armed thugs. We hear of four Americans being killed by Somali pirates, and we are yet to hear of the pirates being hanged or their boat being sunk. American Digest has a most interesting video of what the Russians do about pirates.
There was once a time when you messed with an American and the US stomped your butt. Now we turn tail and run. Dear Leader Obama didn't get the message when the US Navy SEALS saved a captain's life. Two more years is a long time to wait.
We are treated to the spectacle of an American for whom we claim diplomatic immunity being tried for murder in a Pakistani court for defending himself against armed thugs. We hear of four Americans being killed by Somali pirates, and we are yet to hear of the pirates being hanged or their boat being sunk. American Digest has a most interesting video of what the Russians do about pirates.
There was once a time when you messed with an American and the US stomped your butt. Now we turn tail and run. Dear Leader Obama didn't get the message when the US Navy SEALS saved a captain's life. Two more years is a long time to wait.
