Up@dawn 2.0

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Language is Vague (S13;G4)

Hey everybody!

Today in class, we discussed Williamson and the concept of vagueness.  We agreed that all language is vague.  In order to completely eliminate language vagueness, the human language would need to expand to include an infinite number of words to accurately describe anything at all.  In class, we also touched upon language manipulation.  Language vagueness has often times allowed people to manipulate words to divorce themselves from their immoral actions.  An example of this is demonstrated in the Nazi usage of the word "extermination" to replace the word "murder."  We all agreed with Williamson's idea that "truth exists, even if we don't know it."  Each concept, we believe, has a true form, as Plato would say.  However, the adjectives and words we use are relevant to the time period in which we live.  We raised questions such as, "Is vagueness lying?" and "At what point can something be described as being 'something' (ex. tall, bald)?"  We determined that it is impossible to eliminate language vagueness and it is not lying, rather necessary in order to describe anything at all.  The problem that occurs with this ambiguity is that it makes communication difficult and ultimately makes anything spoken or written "fuzzy" and in some way, lacking clarity.

Next class we will be talking about Matravers and art.  This reading raised several questions in my mind.  At what point is something considered art?  What exactly is art?  Can it be defined or is it relative to individual standards?  Do you think a true form of "art" exists?

I look forward to discussing these questions next class.
Post any questions you may have for next class!

Arielle Roides

7 comments:

  1. Amanda Gargano4:39 PM CST

    I think that our discussion on vaguness was very good, and after talking about what the word vague meant to us, I got a clearer understanding about it. After reading about Matravers idea of art, it occured to me that everyone sees art very differently. Art classes have always seemed strange to me because I never understood how one person could single-handedly grade your artwork. Everyone sees beauty in different things, and if you think that your artwork is beautiful and spectacular, then that is all that matters. SO my questions are.. What does art mean to you? and Where does Matrevers say we get our modern concept of art from?

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  2. chelsea smith5:29 PM CST

    i enjoyed our discussion about vaguness. I now realize how much we use it in language and why professors always tell students to use specific and infinite number of words to avoid being vague. Our next discussion about the definition of art by Martravers. My questions are what is art? How does he explain that art have an aesthetic beauty?

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  3. Haley Weathers8:29 PM CST

    Art has always confused me because of the lack of definition. It ties back to the idea of vagueness. Yes, there is a dictionary definition for art ( "The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture"),but what exactly is expression or application? Some may think that anyone who expresses or applies something in some sort of way is creating art. Others believe that art is very particular. I personally think art is all about perception. Why did Kant think that the patterns of shapes and lines were what determined whether something was beautiful or not?(I thought this was an interesting point of view.) Derek Matravers thinks that something simply becomes art if someone puts it forward as a "candidate for appreciation" and the object goes through some sort of process for a particular reason. Is that a logical definition for art? Also, would a piece of art become more valuble to you if you knew the reason it was made into art or would you rather it be mysterious and make your own reasonings.

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  4. Art is another way we use vagueness in our language. I feel like art is somewhat relative to it's creator; it's hard to tell someone something they have created and feel is art is not art. I feel like all art must convey some kind of meaning even if this meaning is seemingly insignificant. I feel like art also goes past painting, drawing, and sculpting. I consider literature art; words are valuable tools, and it takes much skill to utilize them to the best of your ability to convey a story and a message.
    Discussion: how do you personally define art?
    Factual: What analogy did Dickie use to differentiate between objects such as forks or urinals that were used for art and those that weren't? (A married and non married person)

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  5. Anthony Esposito9:00 AM CST

    Hey guys. I've found this week's chapter about the definition of art to be particularly interesting. I'm wondering if the definition of art that was applied in 1740 by Abbe Batteaux still makes sense today. Every new generation has the pleasure and advantage of using new technology that wasn't available to people beforehand. If we consider art to be anything that gives us pleasure, you couldn't begin to list every shape or form in which art could be presented. I personally believe that art is kind of unlimited, and that the definition of art is more of a subjective discussion.

    Factual: (T or F) According to Paul Kristeller, music was linked to mathematics. (True)
    Discussion: Do we enjoy art simply because it evokes pleasure? Or are there other factors?

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  6. Natalie Ricketts9:15 AM CST

    In our reading, we discover some basics about art. Matravers tells us that people over time have come up with differing ways to define or look at art. Earlier ways saw it more traditionally but as times have progressed, the definition has widened significantly. I think of art more broadly. I am sure a major factor in this thinking is the time and society in which we live now, but it is my view nonetheless. I think our world now is to a point that cannot strictly define anything really, especially art. There are so many forms that I think one would struggle to find a single definition for the word.
    --Matravers says that if you’re saying an object is beautiful, you’re asking other people to agree with you? (T or F) True.
    --Do you think art has multiple forms and definitions?

    --Natalie Ricketts

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  7. Art is such a broad subject today. There are so many different things that represent art. Its interesting to think about what was considered art when it was first created. Was it jus drawing and painting on paper?

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