Re: What is the definition of "definition"?

Eliezer Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Mon, 03 Feb 1997 23:21:52 -0600

Look, I'm just trying to establish a distinction between form and
content here. Everything you objected to is simply packaging for your
convenience and the convenience of our hapless readers. If I take away
the packaging, which is all that you're objecting to, what's left still
makes perfect non-circular sense.

And, in another note, I'd like to point out that your defense has now
completely wandered away from its earlier position that my definition of
"definition" - as opposed to "my definition of "definition"" - is
circular, and is now reduced to claiming that all definitions must rely
on pre-existing ideas. Again, how is my definition of "definition"
circular, as opposed to our discussion of it? Please do not object to
this paragraph on the grounds that _it_ is circular. I know this
paragraph is circular, but this is not my definition of "definition".

-- 
         sentience@pobox.com      Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
          http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/singularity.html
           http://tezcat.com/~eliezer/algernon.html
Disclaimer:  Unless otherwise specified, I'm not telling you
everything I think I know.