"If I can define your words differently, I can change your argument & beat it easily." So dishonest & achieves absolutely nothing.
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This is one way to tell the difference between good & bad philosophers. The former want to address an argument as it is,not redefine it away
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Or maybe that's uncharitable. Some people genuinely do take a label first & then adapt their values to it.
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"OK, so I'm going to be a Christian. What do I need to believe?" Rather than. "I believe this. What's the name for that? Christian.'
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If you find yourself referring people to a dictionary as evidence of what that other person thinks, slap yourself & reevaluate.
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Best way to bypass an attempt at gotcha-by-definition is to agree to situate yourself within other person's definitions temporarily.
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Are you an atheist? I don't believe in God so yes. An atheist claims to know God not to exist! I don't. Then you're not an atheist! OK >:-[
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It can be tempting to argue with ppl defining things wrongly (if you're me) but there's very seldom any point
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Now, I tell people they can define me as peanut butter sandwich if they like as long as they address what I'm really saying & that helps.
End of conversation
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