On Descriptions, was Re: Churchill

Carrol Cox cbcox at ilstu.edu
Sun Oct 21 10:22:35 PDT 2001


I've often tried, when identifying someone to a third party (for example, identifying which speaker at a forum one is talking about), to describe that person, for example, as "the tall man in the brown coat." No luck -- auditor didn't remember. In desperation, "the tall black man." Oh yes.

Assumptions run deep about what does and what does not constitute a sufficent description -- i.e., what characteristics are "fundamental" (black, female) and what are only accidental (brown coat, shrewd tactical suggestion, white, male). Note that Hart was a candidate for president; Jackson was a black candidate for president. Only in very special situations is it necessary (or even suitable) to characterize someone as white or male.

Carrol



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