Originally posted by Scribble
Like I say, I completely understand your point, and it's not a technique I'd suggest to a lot of people – you have to learn to think complexly first so that you can then actually understand the simple. Relying on simplification is a generally very bad move, as you're saying.
sorta disagree. at the risk of committing my own oversimplification: simplifying is always good and constructive. oversimplifying is always bad and destructive. i view it like math. simplifying a problem as much as possible is always a good, no exceptions. however one might make an error by incorrectly simplifying part of the equation, which makes the entire equation incorrect. in the case of politics, such errors are typically made unknowingly because of a blind spot caused by biased desire for a particular conclusion.
i believe that if "though shalt not oversimplify" was one of the 10 commandments, we'd be in a much better place today
Originally posted by Bashar TegWell beyond specific word definitions what I'm talking about is just the process of cutting something down to something minimal, to broad strokes like "good" "bad" etc., even utilising stereotypes as a benchmark of how something is viewed, etc., so that you can then build on it.
sorta disagree. at the risk of committing my own oversimplification: simplifying is always good and constructive. oversimplifying is always bad and destructive. i view it like math. simplifying a problem as much as possible is always a good, no exceptions. however one might make an error by incorrectly simplifying part of the equation, which makes the entire equation incorrect. in the case of politics, such errors are typically made unknowingly because of a blind spot caused by biased desire for a particular conclusion.i believe that if "though shalt not oversimplify" was one of the 10 commandments, we'd be in a much better place today
right, but I'm saying that i consider the symantic issue to be way more important than the argument from which it sprang. one is defined as a distortion, and distortion of issues/concepts/truth is always bad. i think the concept should be drilled into our heads at the beginning of grammar/primary school onward.
Originally posted by Bashar TegIdk, most people I know see 'oversimplified' as a negative thing, like 'overdone' or 'overboard'
right, but I'm saying that i consider the symantic issue to be way more important than the argument from which it sprang. one is defined as a distortion, and distortion of issues/concepts/truth is always bad. i think the concept should be drilled into our heads at the beginning of grammar/primary school onward.
But I even see use in that form of oversimplification, like with the use of stereotypes. Stereotypes are generally damaging to society, but starting from them and figuring out why they're bad and where the real truth of the matter is is a good way of working imo. You can use dangerous methods as long as you're careful jafeel
Originally posted by Scribble
But I even see use in that form of oversimplification, like with the use of stereotypes. Stereotypes are generally damaging to society, but starting from them and figuring out why they're bad and where the real truth of the matter is is a good way of working imo. You can use dangerous methods as long as you're careful jafeel
the root of stereotyping is in fallacies like strawman bashing and sweeping generalization, which are really just varieties of oversimplification. I can't think of a situation in politics where distorting the truth is a good thing.