On Descriptions, was Re: Churchill

[Carrol Cox]

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