army1987 comments on Bad Concepts Repository - Less Wrong

20 Post author: moridinamael 27 June 2013 03:16AM

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Comment author: FeepingCreature 27 June 2013 03:45:32PM *  12 points [-]

The word "is" in all its forms. It encourages category thinking in lieu of focussing on the actual behavior or properties that make it meaningful to apply. Example: "is a clone really you?" Trying to even say that without using "is" poses a challenge. I believe it should be treated the same as goto: occasionally useful but usually a warning sign.

Comment author: [deleted] 28 June 2013 12:26:26PM 2 points [-]

Not having a word for “is” didn't stop the Chinese from coming up with the “white horse not horse” thing, though.