The word 'definition' has come to have a dangerously reassuring sound, owing no doubt to its frequent occurrence in logical and mathematical writings.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Quine warns that the term definition feels overly comforting due to its common use in logic and math.
- In plain terms
- The word definition sounds too safe because it appears so often in formal writing.
- What can you take from it?
- Familiar terms can hide real ambiguity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does a term become misleading?
- How sure are we about definitions?
Another view
Familiarity does not guarantee clarity or safety.
More from Willard van Orman Quine
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