General

Re: Meaningless Words

Stranger — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:01:25 GMT

Just correct them on their meaning using the most value-free definition of the term, then chide them for their poor sophistication, preferably in front of a crowd.

For example when discussing capitalism, I always insist on the definition of an economic relation where the capitalist assumes all the risk of an enterprise and the employee is paid a fixed amount regardless of the success or failure of his product.

If we can't have words anymore, then doublethink has won.

Re: Meaningless Words

Brainpolice — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:57:30 GMT

Dondoolee:

Perhaps I am way off the mark

It seems that to most people the phrases: market, economy, capitalism, free market, free trade, etc are nothing but hollow words with nothing but political meaning. For example if I say "free trade" all a person would do with that is maybe just think of Republicans and hence be anathemic to what ever may be said after that.

Should one try to use better phrases or words to try and recapture the meaning to the ideas associated with the free market, such as the phrase "human action"

I wouldn't say that they are completely meaningless, only that there are semantic ambiguities that arise because of the nature of politics. There are some semantic conflicts over such terms, but I wouldn't say that the concepts involved are meaningless. What's important are the specific ideas or concepts or principles that one is refering to. So as long as you spell out what you really mean, you can possibly get over the semantic problems that arise for people.

Re: Meaningless Words

William — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:46:36 GMT

There is not much denying that the left has won the war of words, that's why new phrases and terms must be devoloped as quickly as the left correpts them I think. It's humiliating to use socialist words such as capitalism and bouguoise while getting shafted with awkward words such as libertarian, minarchist, or anachro-capitalist. Sometimes just for poops and giggles I use the term Austrio-Libertarian, it confuses people and makes them think I'm a Hapsburg or something. Either way the right is just flat out awful in keeping up with the word game, it has to change

Re: Meaningless Words

Jon Irenicus — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:27:14 GMT

Look up package deals or anti-concepts in connection with Rand, on how the meanings of these words have been distorted through the passage of time, often deliberately.

Meaningless Words

William — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:05:20 GMT

Perhaps I am way off the mark

It seems that to most people the phrases: market, economy, capitalism, free market, free trade, etc are nothing but hollow words with nothing but political meaning. For example if I say "free trade" all a person would do with that is maybe just think of Republicans and hence be anathemic to what ever may be said after that.

Should one try to use better phrases or words to try and recapture the meaning to the ideas associated with the free market, such as the phrase "human action"