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Moral Moments

Right by Definition

by Joel Marks

Do unicorns exist? If ‘unicorn’ is defined as a horse with a horn on its forehead, the answer is probably “No.” But if the definition is, say, “any animal that sports a horn on its head,” then, yes, there are unicorns, for example, certain goats.

This example has little intrinsic significance. However, its implications could not be more profound. For if you reflect upon the way a question about existence can depend upon a question about definition, you realize that, ultimately, every matter of fact is a matter of meaning.

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