[Taxacom] Seed plants of Fiji

[rjensen at saintmarys.edu]

ohn,

I never said that definitions solve anything. What I said was that definitions do matter.

As an example, in the past you have used "overall similarity" in a way that no one else does.  You have used overall similarity to refer to single characters.  Clearly, the definition of overall similarity will determine whether your usage makes any sense or not.

Constructive discourse requires that we have a set of common definitions that we agree on.  If not, then much time and energy will be wasted.

I have no quarrel with the view that we only learn by creating definitions, not from the definitions.  But in the end, the definitions we use do matter.

Cheers,

Dick J   

Richard Jensen
Department of Biology
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

----- Original Message -----
From: John Grehan <jgrehan at sciencebuff.org>
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:56 am
Subject: RE: [Taxacom] Seed plants of Fiji

> Richard,
> 
> If you could explain how my position on definitions has specific 
> impacton a particular discussion it might be helpful. But 
> otherwise I stand by
> my statement. Definitiions, of themselves, never solve anything other
> that what is already solved. That is how one comes up with 
> definitions,and that is why people may argue over definitions.
> 
> John Grehan
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Richard Jensen [mailto:rjensen at saintmarys.edu]
> > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 8:23 AM
> > To: John Grehan
> > Cc: Karl Magnacca; taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu; Biogeography Portal
> > Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Seed plants of Fiji
> > 
> > Karl et al.,
> > 
> > I suspect that your attempts to use logical example/explanations and
> > emphasize the meaning of things will fail to convince John of
> anything.
> > After all, John had this to say about the meanings of terms 
> (this is a
> > direct quote):
> > 
> > "Definitions don't tell you any more than you already know. That is
> why
> > they don't matter."
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > 
> > Dick J
> > 
> > Richard Jensen, Professor
> > Department of Biology
> > Saint Mary's College
> > Notre Dame, IN 46556
> > Tel: 574-284-4674
> > 
> > 
> 
>