> > How does one define the color blue? Simple you point at something blue
> >and say: That is blue.All valid words are based at some point in
> >something that the senses alone have brought to our attention. This is
> >not a vicious circle but points to a point: something we experience.
> >Just because we form these concepts into larger and larger groups of
> >concepts doesn't mean a particular word is not tied to reality at some
> >point.
>
> I agree that what you call "valid words" come from sense perceptions. In
> your last sentence you seemed to get the issue that higher level concepts
> are connected with sense perception mixed up with the issue about the
> meanings of words--whether they're context dependent or definition
> dependent. My point was that the context in which a word is used,
> determines its meaning. For instance, if I say, "The sky is blue and I'm
> feeling blue," the same word means something different according to
> context.
The way we construct meaning by extrapolating metaphorically from our
sense perceptions is central to the writings of George Lakoff, which I
recommend to all Virions. Particularly relevant in this case are
_Metaphor and Thought_, _More Than Pure Reason_, and his lecture from
which I posted extensive notes on this list (look in the archives on
the website--I think it was in February, and the posts are all labeled
with Lakoff's name).
Eva, Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things