[Leica] Re: RE: Weekend catch-up + scuffs?

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

I like your short posts better! Too much to read here.

Jim


At 10:47 PM 12/4/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Jim Brick jotted down the following:
>
>> But what cows do cannot be vulgar therefore writing about what cows do
>> cannot be vulgar.
>
>
>From Webster:
>
>> Main Entry:    vul·gar
>> Pronunciation:    'v&l-g&r
>> Function:    adjective
>> Etymology:    Middle English, from Latin vulgaris of the mob, vulgar, from
>> volgus, vulgus mob, common people
>> Date:    14th century
>> 1 a : generally used, applied, or accepted b : understood in or having the
>> ordinary sense <they reject the vulgar conception of miracle -- W. R. Inge>
>> 2 : VERNACULAR <the vulgar name of a plant>
>> 3 a : of or relating to the common people : PLEBEIAN b : generally
current :
>> PUBLIC <the vulgar opinion of that time> c : of the usual, typical, or
>> ordinary kind
>> 4 a : lacking in cultivation, perception, or taste : COARSE b : morally
crude,
>> undeveloped, or unregenerate : GROSS c : ostentatious or excessive in
>> expenditure or display : PRETENTIOUS
>> 5 a : offensive in language : EARTHY b : lewdly or profanely indecent
>> synonym see COMMON, COARSE
>> - vul·gar·ly adverb
>
>(2) does not apply in this context (we're talking about what cows do, not
>how they refer to things).  (3) falls into the same category, as does (5)
>since, to the best of my knowledge, cows do not have language.
>
>Which leaves us with (1) and (4).  Clearly, cows have generally used or
>ordinary ways of doing things, hence cows can be vulgar the first sense.
>(4) is more difficult, since it would require us to explore whether cows
>have culture or morals, or are capable of being pretentious, gross, or
>coarse (according to *cow* standards -- not ours).  But, since all I need is
>to refute your statement on a single point (since it was a universal
>statement), and since I've shown that cows can indeed be vulgar (sense (1)
>above), I've refuted the first part of your statement.
>
>Now, as to the logic of the proposition:  "Cows cannot do X, therefore
>writing about what cows do cannot be X", I'll leave that as an exercise to
>the reader...
>
>;)
>
>M.  (been reading too much analytical philosophy lately)
>
>-- 
>Martin Howard                     | "Common sense is just the layer of
>Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU       | prejudices put down before the age of
>email: howard.390@osu.edu         | eighteen."  -- Albert Einstein
>www: http://mvhoward.i.am/        +---------------------------------------
>