Back in junior high math class one of the most interesting sections was the proofs. The transitive property is famous for it’s very sound logic. If a=b and b=c then a=c. Let’s take some cliches and apply this property to them just for the halibut.
1. If Time is Money and Money is Power then Time is Power.
- Money is the root of all evil. Power is the root of all evil. Time is the root of all evil.
- Money can’t buy me love. Power can’t buy me love. Time can’t buy me love.
- Time heals all wounds. Money heals all wounds. Power heals all wounds.
- Power corrupts. Money corrupts. Time corrupts.
2. If God is love and Love is blind then God is blind.
It doesn’t really work because our cliche sayings are not very logically sound. Time and money and power are not equal to each other. God is not actually love itself and love does not require braille. We humans love metaphors and other devices to help us grasp concepts and ideas.
Wow, that was very nerdy.
I have a friend (Ed T. Babinski) who says that he can come up with an analogy for anything.
…Ahem. A “LOL” was supposed to preface that last comment. I enjoyed this post.
I think that the reason for this is that words’ meaning are slippery. Meaning varies from place to place. Most words have multiple denotative as well as connotative meaning. Look at the word power. It could mean energy, or ability, or clout, or influence, or part of an offensive basketball scheme. In the end words are practically a guessing game in meaning using basic rules of syntax and hoping that your schema are similar enough to the author to communicate.
now who’s the nerd?
Shall we begin discussing different meanings of Klingon words?