Semantic stopsigns

Nielsio · Subject: Semantic stopsigns Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:57 am

Good read:
http://www.overcomingbias.com/2007/08/semantic-stopsi.html

(about god, democracy, etc, in language and thought)

PS By means of objection, I'm now going to post every thread in 'Other' if I can't think of the correct subforum to post in within 5 seconds.
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mike barskey · Subject: Re: Semantic stopsigns Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:15 pm

"Semantic Stopsigns" are an interesting way to look at such ideas. I normally thought of "God!" as a disclaimer, or like the MPAA rating you see just before a movie starts: it told me before I continued into conversation with that person, that that person had limitations to their intellectual capacity or intellectual honesty. But I think "stop sign" is a better, nicer metaphor because it doesn't necessarily imply cognitive limitations. While someone who is incapable of thinking beyond "God!" would stop at this stopsign, so might a person who needed to look at a map for a moment (e.g., someone gathering their thoughts, or deciding whether such a debate would be enjoyable).

I also found it interesting that the author claimed that "intelligence" used to be one of his own semantic stopsigns. I'm not sure I understand what that means. "What makes you so sure you're right? Intelligence!" So the fact that someone is capable of thinking rationally means that they are right about them being able to think rationally and thus be right? Beyond that stopsign might be the questions "what is 'right?'" or "are there other means to being right?"

NonEntity · Number of posts: 2327 Registration date: 2007-11-08

Mike, what a fascinating article and website. Thanks so much! - NonE

mike barskey · Subject: Re: Semantic stopsigns Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:26 pm

Well, you're welcome. Buuuut...it was Nielsio that shared it. Smile

Thanks Nielsio.

Eddie1

Nielsio · Subject: Re: Semantic stopsigns Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:30 pm

mike barskey · Subject: Re: Semantic stopsigns Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:32 pm

NonEntity · Number of posts: 2327 Registration date: 2007-11-08

Damn. It's SO hard to stay on point. So sorry Nielsio! And, belatedly... THANKS so much for the link! Wink

- NonE (...if I only had a brain...)