[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... )

Subject: Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... )
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 16:52:12 -0700

John Posada wrote:

example, I'm also doing a particular type of circular reasoning
called dormitive explanation, but that's another issue).


"...circular reasoning called dormitive explanation..."



Not that you asked (:-) ), but in case anyone else was wondering: "dormitive explanation" refers to a circular argument in which the fact that it's circular is hidden by the use of a synonym. The name refers to a classic example in a play by Moliere, in which a doctoral candidate explains that opium puts people to sleep because it contains a dormitive principle - in other words, it makes people sleep because it contains something that makes people sleep.

The term was coined by Gregory Bateson, the cybernetics pioneer and one-time husband of Margaret Mead. It's a very common way for so-called experts to hide their lack of knowledge behind dormitive explanation. In some parts of academia, it's almost a way of life.

Aren't you glad you didn't ask?


Bruce...you and Bonnie gotta get a life, man...



I had one once, but it didn't work out. Maybe next time I'm at the flea market, I'll look around for something second hand.

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"I work for the pleasure of stopping,
I stop for the pleasure of beer."
-The Mollys, "The Lang Town"



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Announcing new options for IPCC 01, October 24-27 in Santa Fe. Attend the entire event, select a single day, or sign up for a Saturday postconference workshop. http://ieeepcs.org/2001

Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... ): From: John Posada

Previous by Author: Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... )
Next by Author: Re: Multilingualism and Technical Writers
Previous by Thread: Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... )
Next by Thread: Re: Display or appear (Was: Can "either" be used ... )

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:

Sponsored Ads