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 Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:15 pm
I've been told that if I hate people, then I hate myself.
The logic of this person apparently says I hate myself because I am a person. Many persons = people. Therefore I hate me.
Umm . . No, I hate people because I don't want to deal with them. Ever.
Does hating on people mean I hate myself? No, I like me, but I don't like them.
It's like saying, "I don't like the picture itself, but I like the small details here and there."
Okay, enough ranting on my end. Your thoughts on hating people = hating yourself?
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:25 pm
I believe your opponent here was attempting a reductio, and the failure was one of semantics. Your two definitions of the word "people" weren't identical, so naturally you couldn't agree on the definition of a phrase containing it.
Your definition of "people" is, I believe, a general one, meaning (more precisely) "most people" (with the greatest possible extreme being "people who aren't me"); your opponent was using the definition of "people" that is "the collective of the human race". Following their definition, they constructed a perfectly reasonable statement, and one that you'd have to submit to to maintain your position. Assuming your definition, their claim was necessarily invalid.
Personally, I'd argue that you're misdefining "people" - or, rather, that you're using an imperfect term for what you're intending to say. If you mean "most people" (like, in your example, that you mean "most of the picture" - the fallacy is that the picture is one unit that can have a precise "like" or "dislike" value apportioned to it as a whole), you ought to say "most people", as that's a much more accurate statement of your position. If you actually do mean "all people", then you're obliged to cede that you do hate yourself... eek
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:38 pm
Yeah, I have a problem with generalizing. Then again, so do most people I encounter in real life.
"Everyone's doing it!" - most people I know/talk to.
I guess my definition varies on what I think the subject is. Humanity as a whole = people. Local persons in a city, state, community = most people.
It's just my logic of how I say people vs most people.
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:53 pm
Black Witch of Ra Yeah, I have a problem with generalizing. Then again, so do most people I encounter in real life. "Everyone's doing it!" - most people I know/talk to. I guess my definition varies on what I think the subject is. Humanity as a whole = people. Local persons in a city, state, community = most people. It's just my logic of how I say people vs most people.
Well, I think you just extended the issue a bit, there. xp
The common definition of "Humanity as a whole" would be inclusive of every individual member of humanity - therefore, hating "people", as defined as "Humanity as a whole", would include yourself, being a member of humanity. Obviously that's not the definition you're invoking, here.
However, a simple additive like "generally" or "on average" would negate the issue - if not the most precise solution, an effective one. At least that way you cede the imprecision of the statement as you make it - though I still think the ideal solution would be to amend the statement to specifically indicate which "people" it is you hate. After all, we're not all bad... sweatdrop
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:56 pm
Red Kutai Black Witch of Ra Yeah, I have a problem with generalizing. Then again, so do most people I encounter in real life. "Everyone's doing it!" - most people I know/talk to. I guess my definition varies on what I think the subject is. Humanity as a whole = people. Local persons in a city, state, community = most people. It's just my logic of how I say people vs most people.
Well, I think you just extended the issue a bit, there. xp
The common definition of "Humanity as a whole" would be inclusive of every individual member of humanity - therefore, hating "people", as defined as "Humanity as a whole", would include yourself, being a member of humanity. Obviously that's not the definition you're invoking, here.
However, a simple additive like "generally" or "on average" would negate the issue - if not the most precise solution, an effective one. At least that way you cede the imprecision of the statement as you make it - though I still think the ideal solution would be to amend the statement to specifically indicate which "people" it is you hate. After all, we're not all bad... sweatdrop
Good point. Argument has been solved. At least I think it is.
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