VAGUENESS!Another important source of confusion in real life

Chapter 3; third part of 3.

YOU: Dr. Teacher, Dr. Teacher! I missed class! What’s the reading assignment?

DR. TEACHER: Read a lot.

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“Read a lot????” That’s pretty vague.

A statement is too VAGUE when it lacks enough detail for our purposes.

A judgment call.But reasonable people agree that “Read a lot” is too vague for a reading assignment.

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Which is more vague?

Jeremy turned his ankle.Jeremy turned to religion.

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Which is more vague?

Oswald was dealt a full house. Oswald is not playing with a full deck.

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Which is more vague?

My car turns on a dime. These scales turn on a hair.

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In your judgment, is the italicized term too vague given the implied context?

“I’d just like a regular haircut, please.”

There is no “correct” answer, BUT:Seems pretty vague to this teacher.

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In your judgment, is the italicized term too vague given the implied context?

“If you get ready for bed quickly, Mommy has a surprise for you.”

Seems just right, no?

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Too vague given the implied context?

“Let’s have a little less noise, for God’s sake! I’m trying to sleep!!”

Seems just right!

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Too vague given the implied context?

“To avoid unsafe levels of carbon monoxide, do not set the wick on your kerosene stove too high.”

Seems pretty darn vague.

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Too vague, in your opinion?

“Nothing short of total victory is acceptable in Iraq.”

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Too vague given the implied context?

“War on Terrorism”

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Anything wrong with any of these?

“Today we face a crisis in higher education.”

“What should be done about immigration?”

“In this company, you need to be creative. You need to think outside the box.”

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If a term is too vague or is ambiguous or is otherwise unclear, what you need is what?

E.g. Define “total victory.” What do you mean by “too high”? What is a “regular haircut”?

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A definition.

The text discusses three types of definition. The main point is to do whatever it takes to make a concept clear.

But one type of definition deserves special attention…

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“What is a conservative? I’ll tell you what a conservative is. A conservative is a hypertensive hypocrite who believes in telling people what kind of sex life they should have.”

This is called a “rhetorical definition.” Its real purpose is not to define, but to influence attitudes.

More later!

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Good habit: Always ask questions like:

“What do you mean by _____?”“I’m not sure I understand what you

have in mind when you say _____.”“Could you clarify a bit ? What is a

______?”“Could you define _______?”

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But… you want to define the appropriate term:

From a Peanuts cartoon:

LINUS: Fat? I’m not fat!

LUCY: Of course you’re fat… Look at that stomach!

LINUS: Define “stomach”!

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Review of Chapter 3:

Semantic ambiguitySyntax ambiguityGrouping ambiguityVagueness: a matter of degreeRhetorical definition

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