This sentence sounds to me like you want to use Korzybski’s metaphor while ignoring the point of his argument. After him language is supposed to be used to create semantic reactions in the audience and the is a of identity is to be avoided.
The essay feels like you struggle with is a but are neither willing to go Korzybski’s way nor are you willing to provide a good argument for why we should use the is a of identity.
I would think this unsurprising, as most of lesswrong is very happy to take Korzybski’s metaphor while ignoring the point of his argument. I have never heard what I take to be a real argument for actually eliminating “is a” as a possible thing to mean, only arguments that in English, “is” and related words cause some problems due to ambiguities, missing information, and unwanted implications. I have rarely seen LW-cluster aspiring rationalists avoid forms of “is”, and never heard a serious endorsement of such avoidance on LW.
I’m curious if you think “is a” should be eliminated as a possible thing to mean. I would be interested in hearing your argument!
I would think this unsurprising, as most of lesswrong is very happy to take Korzybski’s metaphor while ignoring the point of his argument. I have never heard what I take to be a real argument for actually eliminating “is a” as a possible thing to mean, only arguments that in English, “is” and related words cause some problems due to ambiguities, missing information, and unwanted implications. I have rarely seen LW-cluster aspiring rationalists avoid forms of “is”, and never heard a serious endorsement of such avoidance on LW.
I’m curious if you think “is a” should be eliminated as a possible thing to mean. I would be interested in hearing your argument!