Ap Biology never seems to fail me when it comes to drawing connections between reality (if such a thing exists...) and Hayakawa's Language in Thought and Action.
As our discussion of the four macromolecules was coming to an end, Mrs. Ericson presented us with the generally accepted definition of "organic compounds." Years ago, an organic compound was classified as a material made by living organisms. Due to the advancement of technology in the present-day, laboratories nationwide are now replicating the processes formerly limited to nature. Thus, the scientific community was compelled to redefine "organic compounds" as substances that contain one or more carbons and hydrogens. This is now the general definition presented in biology textbooks.
This scenario triggered the thought about the discussion we participated in during class a few days ago. Similarly to the scientists in the biological field, McCain succeeded in redefining a word (fundamentals) which was successfully accepted by his audience. What is stopping the average high student, such as you and I, from redefining terms? Are we lacking authoritative positions..?
(Sam Maliha)
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2 comments:
I feel that as high school students, we are not taken seriously by society. There's nothing stopping us, per se, from redefining terms; in all likelihood, however, no one will listen. In order for a word to be redefined, the new definition must be accepted and agreed upon by a majority of society, and it's unlikely a high school student would have that much influence.
-Paige Walker-
I think the issue, really, is how much experience we have with the words that we are redefining. Someone who thinks John McCain has experience with the economy will most likely agree with his "re"- definition. In addition, the scientists who redefined the meaning of the phrase "organic compound" most likely were believed because they had been working in that field of science for a signficant amount of time and they had been researching what they believed to be organic compounds for a significant amount of time. I think authority ties in here, as well. The more experience we have in a certain area, the more recognition we will gain, and the more widely received or "re"-definitions will most likely be.
(Emily Thompson)
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