Overall I agree with your point and would even go further (not sure if you’ll agree or not). My feelings about colloquial language are kind of environmentalist: I think it should be allowed to grow in the traditional way, through folk poetry and individual choices, without foisting academisms or attacking “old” concepts. Otherwise we’ll just have a poor and ugly language.
I agree, and think many conceptual engineering-type philosophers would agree, about natural language. The problem is that when you’re applying rigorous analysis to a “naturally” grown structure like “truth” or “knowledge,” you run into serious issues. Kevin Scharp’s project (e.g.) is just to improve the philosophical terms, not to interfere with mainstream use.
Paper by Chalmers, maybe people will find it a good intro.
Overall I agree with your point and would even go further (not sure if you’ll agree or not). My feelings about colloquial language are kind of environmentalist: I think it should be allowed to grow in the traditional way, through folk poetry and individual choices, without foisting academisms or attacking “old” concepts. Otherwise we’ll just have a poor and ugly language.
I agree, and think many conceptual engineering-type philosophers would agree, about natural language. The problem is that when you’re applying rigorous analysis to a “naturally” grown structure like “truth” or “knowledge,” you run into serious issues. Kevin Scharp’s project (e.g.) is just to improve the philosophical terms, not to interfere with mainstream use.