The Etymological Argument - Fallacy or Sound Move

Table of Contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• Etymology and the Meaning of Terms
  • Distinction from Conceptual History/ Cultural Studies
  • Opinions about the Etymological Argument/ the Etymological Fallacy
  • Divergences of the Meanings of Terms
  • The Term-Meaning Relation: Dynamic versus static Meaning
• Etymology in Argumentation. From historical Meaning to lived Praxis
  • An illicit Reasoning Scheme for the Etymological Argument
• Evaluation of the Etymological Argument
  • The modern Status of Etymology after Saussure
  • Popper's Criticism of ontological Platonic Epistemology
  • Implications: Key-Terms, Meanings and Definitions
  • The Use of Etymology for the Purpose of Giving a Definition
  • Fallacy Criteria for the Etymological Argument
• Conclusion & Outlook
• References
• Notes
• Graphics

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis investigates the role of etymology as an argument within the framework of the Pragma-Dialectic model. It critiques the etymological argument, arguing that it relies on an ontological assumption of essences beyond the observable world. The research outlines criteria for fallacious etymological arguments and ultimately proposes that all essential definitions should be avoided or mitigated to prevent ontological implications. The criticism of essentialism is rooted in Karl Popper's ideas presented in "The Open Society," published at the end of World War II, and is linked to Ferdinand de Saussure's proposition of an arbitrary relationship between linguistic form and meaning.

• The role of etymology as an argument in the Pragma-Dialectic model
• The criticism of the etymological argument for its reliance on ontological assumptions
• The development of criteria for fallacious etymological arguments
• The proposal to avoid or mitigate essential definitions to prevent ontological implications
• The connection between Popper's critique of essentialism and Saussure's proposition of an arbitrary relationship between linguistic form and meaning

Chapter Summaries

• Preface: This section provides an overview of the thesis's main argument and research focus, highlighting the critique of the etymological argument for its ontological presuppositions. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding essential definitions and the use of Popper's criticism of essentialism and Saussure's theory of linguistic form-meaning relation.
• Introduction: This chapter presents a real-world example of an etymological argument and introduces the concept of etymology as an argument within a Pragma-Dialectical framework. It raises the questions of justifiable use of etymology in arguments and the criteria for evaluating its soundness.
• Etymology and the Meaning of Terms: This chapter delves into the concept of etymology and its relationship to terms and meanings. It discusses the distinction between etymology and other fields like conceptual history and cultural studies, examines various opinions on the etymological argument and the etymological fallacy, explores divergences in term meanings, and investigates the dynamic versus static nature of the term-meaning relationship.
• Etymology in Argumentation. From historical Meaning to lived Praxis: This chapter focuses on the use of etymology in argumentation, particularly the potential for illicit reasoning schemes.
• Evaluation of the Etymological Argument: This chapter critically examines the etymological argument, considering the influence of Saussure's linguistic theories and Popper's critique of essentialism. It discusses the implications of these theories for key terms, meanings, and definitions, explores the use of etymology in defining terms, and establishes criteria for evaluating fallacious etymological arguments.

Keywords

The primary focus of this thesis lies in the examination of the etymological argument within a Pragma-Dialectical framework. The key concepts include etymology, argumentation, fallacies, essentialism, ontological presuppositions, and the relationship between linguistic form and meaning. The discussion draws upon the theories of Saussure and Popper, emphasizing the importance of avoiding essential definitions and the limitations of the etymological argument.