Persuasive Definitions
by Leland B. Yeager | Posted October 24, 2012
Charles L. Stevenson coined the term "persuasive definitions" (Ethics and Language, 1944). It means: to apply words with favorable or unfavorable connotations to things or actions in such a way as to substitute for actual argument. Examples abound in political discourse nowadays.
I'll focus on just one: "invest." Politicians repeatedly tell us Americans to "invest" in our children, education, job retraining, medical and other research, defense, infrastructure, a healthy environment, clean energy, energy independence, transportation, progress, the future — whatever. Here "invest in" means "have the government spend more money on." More fully, it means "have the government spend more money on such things — money raised by taxes and by increasing the national debt."
What further examples can readers contribute?
Leland B. Yeager is Ludwig von Mises Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Economics at Auburn University.
Share This
Main menu
Search Liberty
Timebound
to be considered for
immediate publication
Most Read
Monthly archive
- November 2010 (24)
- December 2010 (24)
- January 2011 (31)
- February 2011 (17)
- March 2011 (29)
- April 2011 (21)
- May 2011 (22)
- June 2011 (18)
- July 2011 (20)
- August 2011 (20)
- September 2011 (19)
- October 2011 (18)
- November 2011 (17)
- December 2011 (15)
- January 2012 (21)
- February 2012 (15)
- March 2012 (18)
- April 2012 (16)
- May 2012 (20)
- June 2012 (14)
- July 2012 (24)
- August 2012 (20)
- September 2012 (19)
- October 2012 (19)
- November 2012 (21)
- December 2012 (17)
- January 2013 (21)
- February 2013 (16)
- March 2013 (13)
- April 2013 (16)
- May 2013 (12)
- June 2013 (15)
- July 2013 (13)
- August 2013 (13)
- September 2013 (12)
- October 2013 (15)
- November 2013 (13)
- December 2013 (13)
- January 2014 (15)
- February 2014 (13)
- March 2014 (14)
- April 2014 (13)
- May 2014 (13)
- June 2014 (10)
- July 2014 (12)
- August 2014 (14)
- September 2014 (10)
- October 2014 (14)
- November 2014 (12)
- December 2014 (12)
- January 2015 (12)
- February 2015 (11)
- March 2015 (11)
- April 2015 (11)
- May 2015 (10)
- June 2015 (12)
- July 2015 (13)
- August 2015 (10)
- September 2015 (10)
- October 2015 (10)
- November 2015 (9)
- December 2015 (12)
- January 2016 (10)
- February 2016 (10)
- March 2016 (10)
- April 2016 (10)
- May 2016 (13)
- June 2016 (11)
- July 2016 (10)
- August 2016 (10)
- September 2016 (10)
- October 2016 (10)
- November 2016 (11)
- December 2016 (11)
- January 2017 (11)
- February 2017 (11)
- March 2017 (10)
- April 2017 (10)
- May 2017 (10)
- June 2017 (9)
- July 2017 (10)
- August 2017 (10)
- September 2017 (10)
- October 2017 (10)
- November 2017 (10)
- December 2017 (10)
- January 2018 (12)
- February 2018 (10)
- March 2018 (10)
- April 2018 (10)
- May 2018 (10)
- June 2018 (10)
- July 2018 (10)
- August 2018 (10)
- September 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (10)
- November 2018 (10)
- December 2018 (10)
- January 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (5)
Comments
Luther Jett
"Liberal": From the same root as "Liberty", but often meaning the opposite.
Sat, 2012-10-27 10:56
Jon Harrison
How about the "Patriot" Act? What's patriotic about restricting the freedom of U.S. citizens? The "War on Drugs" is another one. That war is being fought not against illegal drugs, but rather against individual freedom on two fronts: first against the citizenry in general (in that all of us have lost some of our personal freedom to law enforcement imperatives); and second specifically against drug users, who may not, the state says, ingest certain substances, even in the privacy of their homes.
One could just go on and on. Remember "user fees"? Recall the "police action" of 1950-53 in Korea. Think of it, over 40,000 U.S. citizens, not to mention countless foreigners, died in a police action. Speaking of police actions, wasn't Janet Reno trying to "save the children" at Waco? Now you've got me started, Professor Yeager. Here's another one: "budget shortfalls." Wait, I must go -- the ghost of George Orwell is knocking on my door . . .
Sat, 2012-10-27 10:32
Fred Hewitt
Hi Jon,
Looks like you could write the book on political words. Or at least the first volume.
Wed, 2012-10-31 21:25
Fred Hewitt
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of politics is that so many of the words used have multiple and confusing definitions. I am certain that a book about this problem would have considerable heft. In most areas of human endeavor there is considerable effort to carefully define word meanings. But in politics, in which the goal is to control individuals by coercion or deception, vague language is a useful tool. This particularly the case in majority or plurality elections where the marginal votes have such extraordinary value that any thing goes in order to defeat the other side (there being only two viable sides). The value of the marginal vote not only account for the deceptive language but also the large expenditures to achieve election victories.
Fri, 2012-10-26 17:13