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Articles

The Problem of Communication

Derrick Grover considers the communication of contemplation.

My questions concerning communication arose after reading some philosophy, sociology and psychology papers that seemed endlessly repetitive. One paragraph followed another, repeating much the same thing with an increment added. I reckoned that they could have been condensed to about 10% of their length without losing value. Having been brought up with the idea that the shortest proof is the most elegant one, I wondered if language is the most suitable form of communication in some of the humanities.

So how does philosophy fare in this respect? My impression of some philosophy papers is that they are the products of a wandering mind moving backwards and forwards as whim takes them.

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