timtyler comments on Arguing "By Definition" - Less Wrong

44 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 20 February 2008 11:37PM

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Comment author: timtyler 01 January 2010 09:32:32PM 3 points [-]

Re: "using the phrase by definition, anywhere outside of math, is among the most alarming signals of flawed argument I've ever found."

I can't say I've noticed. What I do see is a lot of people arguing with one another without bothering to check that they are defining words in the same way. So, IMO making definitions explicit often helps to resolve apparent disagreements.