Descriptive vs. Evaluative Meaning Necessary vs. Sufficient Conditions

1. Descriptive vs. Evaluative MeaningNecessary vs. Sufficient Conditions

2. Today’s Topics • Descriptive and Evaluative Meaning • Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

3. Descriptive and Evaluative Meaning • Because evaluation and description are two of the most basic functions of language, words (or phrases) often take on meanings that blur these functions together • Eg. Renowned, notorious • It is important to note the distinction, because sometimes we can led to accept a particular evaluation through the failure to distinguish descriptive and evaluative meaning

4. Cliché • Words and expressions that are used so often, and in so many contexts, that they “collect up” multiple descriptive and evaluative meanings • These multiple meanings can make one’s writing or speech extremely ambiguous and vague • Eg. “In today’s society” • “back in the day” • “guns don’t kill people…” • Nature vs. Nurture

5. Confusing Necessary and Sufficient Conditions • A common kind of ambiguity that can occur when discussing causes (i.e. in science) or ethical or legal entitlements (i.e. in politics) • Necessary Condition: X is a necessary condition for Y, if, and only if, when X is false Y must also be false • Sufficient Condition: X is a sufficient condition for Y if, and only if, when X is true Y must also be true (or, when X is present Y must occur)

6. The Free Market • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhWgDVS-AdA

7. Malcolm X explains Black Nationalism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO6Co8v2XjY