Hayakawa Ch. 10 :: essays research papers

Hayakawa Chapter 10Giving Things NamesoA differentiation set itself up, and, abstracting the commonalty characteristics.oThe question what is it really? Or what is its right name? are nonsense questions.oThings can merely render right names only if there is a necessary connection between symbols and things being symbolized.oWhat we call things and where we draw the line between one class of things and another depends upon the interests we have and the purpose of the classification.oEach is useful for its purpose.oIf our culture upbringing was different, the world would look different to us.oAlso, many mountain cant distinguish between like things. For example salmon, perch, pickerel, etc. They just call them fish.oWhen we name something we are classifying.oThe individual object or force we are naming has no name and belongs to no class until we put it in one. oThe extensional meaning of a word determines a preceding existence.oIn matters of race and nationality, in the way in which classifications work is especially apparent.oThe effect that each classification has upon what he may or many not do constitutes their reality.oIt would be exactly as justifiable to say that any person with even a small summate of white blood is white. Because the former system of classification suits the convenience of those making the classification.oClassification isnt a matter of identifying essences but it is just a reflection of social convenience or necessity. oAs soon as the process of classification is completed, our attitudes and our conduct are determined.The Blocked capitulumoSnap judgments suggests that such errors can be avoided by thinking more behind this isnt the case, for some people think very slowly with no better results. oWhat we are concerned with is the way in which we block the development of our own minds by automatic reactions. oSome people may say, A Jew is a Jew and theres no getting around that.oThey have an extensional Jew with the off-key J ew inside their heads. oThe fictitious Jew inside their heads remains unchanged in spite of their experiences.oSome people ignore the characteristics left out in the process of classification.Cow 1 Is Not Cow 2oPractically all statements in ordinary conversation, debate, and public controversy taking the form Republicans are Republicans are not true. oAn example is business is business. The 1st business invokes denotes the transaction under discussion and the 2nd invokes the connotations of the word.oThe terms of the classification tell us what the individuals in that class have in common.