Re:On Mathematical Intelligence and How It Grows
by madez on Saturday May 09, 2015 @06:17PM
(#9517902)
I could say race is defined by genetics, and while that's technically
correct, it adds nothing to a discussion about race relations.
Whether a statement does or does not add to a discussion is an independent to whether it's true or not.
Genetics define physical race. That is technically correct, hence it's plain correct and it's true.
If a statement doesn't add to a discussion, then it's misusing of language to say that the statement is "technically correct" instead of clearly saying that the statement is not relevant.
It could be conventional to use "technically correct" to mean "true but important context is missing", so everybody understood it. Some define a language to be correct the way it is used commonly. However, I don't agree and I'd still consider it misusing language.
If context is missing, then why talking about the correctness instead of supplying missing context?
People using "technically correct" like you described indirectly devalue correctness. That follows the lines of valuing more the consequences of a statement than whether it's true or not.
I'd rather see the world like it is than how I'd like it to be. Therefore, correctness is very important to me and I think it shouldn't be subtly devalued.
Genetics define physical race. That is technically correct, hence it's plain correct and it's true.
If a statement doesn't add to a discussion, then it's misusing of language to say that the statement is "technically correct" instead of clearly saying that the statement is not relevant.
It could be conventional to use "technically correct" to mean "true but important context is missing", so everybody understood it. Some define a language to be correct the way it is used commonly. However, I don't agree and I'd still consider it misusing language.
If context is missing, then why talking about the correctness instead of supplying missing context?
People using "technically correct" like you described indirectly devalue correctness. That follows the lines of valuing more the consequences of a statement than whether it's true or not.
I'd rather see the world like it is than how I'd like it to be. Therefore, correctness is very important to me and I think it shouldn't be subtly devalued.
How about you?