Dictionaries

[RWStanding]

Dictionaries
Perhaps the most significant point about dictionaries is that they are not works of philosophy. And if they were used that way, it would spell the end of philosophy, with dictionaries no more than religious tracts. They indicate how words are presently used, and how they were used, with their origins in archaic languages. If a philsopher claims to be an altruist, he is making use of a term that approximates what he thinks he is. In a complete ethical construct of all values, the term may indicate one category in that construct, but what it means in any detail depends on all other values, in opposition and complementary. That is a matter of debate that cannot end.

[Impenitent]

language's meaning is found in its use...

that which the speaker means and that which the listener interprets are always slightly different...

-Imp

[LuckyR]

Dictionaries contain the most rudimentary definitions of words, specifically created to be used by those unfamiliar with the index word. They are kindergarten, not grad school.

[Age]

language's meaning is found in its use...

that which the speaker means and that which the listener interprets are always slightly different...

-Imp

'Always'?

[Age]

Dictionaries
Perhaps the most significant point about dictionaries is that they are not works of philosophy. And if they were used that way, it would spell the end of philosophy, with dictionaries no more than religious tracts. They indicate how words are presently used, and how they were used, with their origins in archaic languages. If a philsopher claims to be an altruist, he is making use of a term that approximates what he thinks he is. In a complete ethical construct of all values, the term may indicate one category in that construct, but what it means in any detail depends on all other values, in opposition and complementary. That is a matter of debate that cannot end.

If you were to NOT start debating, in the beginning, then there would be NO 'matter of debate' that could NOT not end.