The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-02-26
DEFINITIONS vs.. IDEAS
MT Van yorhis Urges the Necessity for
Ideas Rather Than Inf1exible
Definitions

Editor Independent: Frequently, in
periodicals., read articles written by
earnest and thoughtful men that i'm
press me with the difficulties in eco
nomic discussion occasioned by the in
considerate use of words that, in the
nature of language, are not precise in
meaning. 1t is impossible for words
to have such certain and specific
meaning as some writer's desire to
give them.
Language, like everything related to
human development is an evolution.
It has been evolved out of necessities,
the results of conditions and circum-
stances. This is as true of words, and
the meaning of them, in the develop
ment Of language as it is Of tools and
the use of tools in the development of
mechanics. Words have been loaded
with uncertainty in meaning as much
as have traditions and theories with
errors. The want of precise meaning
in words, or, to express it in another
way, the various meanings and shades
of meaning with which the same word
is used, is the result of the same
causes that have filled history with
4 traditions and theories" that are
mixed and confused, or that have lit
tie basis Of truth. The minds of men
are warped "and made to fit" not only
motions" but words that have come
to us from the past"
In the evolution of language, we are
approximating l think, more pre-
else meaning in the use of words, but
it is worth while in the discussion of
any subject, particularly economics, to
use words with the meaning justified
by the best literature, but it must be
remembered that ideas are not ac-
Curately conveyed by words alone, but
by a proper combination and ar
rangenent Of them into language. In
this way, and in this way only, can
ideas be conveyed with even approx
innate correctness and precision. To
fail to remember this is fault from
which, / am afraid, none of US, who
attempt to write or speak, are as free
as we ought to be. The writer, who
attempts to give to certain words a
fixed and definite meaning, usually
fails to con fne his use of the words
, to his own definitions, and generally
succeeds in having the average reader
misunderstood him.
1t ought always to be remembered
that no one writer or speaker can de-
termine the meaning with which a
word shall be used. If readers are ex-
pected to follow accurately our
thoughts, we ought to use our words
as they are generally used in the best
literature. There is no other guide,
and to follow this rule is the privilege
of every writer. Even when we do
this, there are words that we must
necessarily use Of which the meaning
intended must be indicated by the
construction of sentences or phrases.
1t is most unfortunate defect in a
writing that aspires to be a work on
economics, and which is accompanied
by the announcement of purpose to
reconstruct the science, and which
shows much labor and ability, when
there occurs so frequently the unnec-
essary doubling of words, such as
resulting conclusions" accepted
along with" ETC., or when words are
used with such literary inaccuracy as
the word incapable" in "Many of the
assumptions are incapable of verifica-
tion," or as the word collision" when
it is asserted that theory comes in
collision" with an assumption. Con-
clusions are always results. accepted
with" is not made better by the ad-
dition of the word "along." 1t is of
questionable literary accuracy to say
Assumptions have no capacity, or that
they can collide with theories Never
theless, these inaccuracies do not pre-
vent the writer from being under
stood. If such use of the words is in
accurate, the language is still such
that you get the idea intended to be
expressed and that after all, is the
important purpose to be attained. It
is possible to express an idea clearly,
so that there will be no misunder-
standing about the meaning intended,
bv the use of words in a way not JUS
titled by literary accuracy.
There is very lilrelv to be confusion
and uncertainty when we begin the
effort to confine too closely the mean
ing with which word shall be used.
If. in our use of words. we forget the
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