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Maybe machine learning could help identify differences in accepted definitions of words and different assumptions. This came up in another thread recently, but

Maybe machine learning could help identify differences in accepted definitions of words and different assumptions. This came up in another thread recently, but I'll restate the idea here: maybe an n-dimensional vector can be assigned to each assumption or each individual's understanding of a word, and then nearby vectors compared to see where different groups have similar ideas but use different words to describe them (or vice versa). The word "faith", for example, probably means something completely different to a scientist who has "faith" (confidence) in a particular experimental method, versus a religious person who has "faith" (belief/hope) in God, versus a parent who has "faith" (trust) in a child. A tool for discussion could help elucidate these differences in usage and bridge the linguistic gap that can form between groups.

humanrebar 10y ago
Great thoughts. I have had similar ones from a theological perspective. Probably the most famous words of Jesus, from John 3, say that "whoever believes in [Jesus] will not perish". The word 'belief' here is from the Koine Greek root 'pistis' (1), which is also translated as 'faith' in its noun form. It absolutely carries connotations of trust, relationship, and fidelity. To the point where it is nonsense to have faith without personal consequences such as changed behavior (see James 1). So I believe your last definition fits the ideas of the Bible better. Anyway, both Christians and non-Christians in the English speaking world tend to use the word 'faith' to fit your second definition, something more like wish/hope/belief/feeling. So I can understand atheist's offense when Christians say atheism and science are each expressions of faith, but I think a lot of it comes from the sort of 'linguistic gap' you talk about. Anyway, it's a shame we don't more words to distinguish between these overloaded ideas: faith, facts, love, etc. (1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4102&t=ESV https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?str...

humanrebar 10y ago

Great thoughts. I have had similar ones from a theological perspective. Probably the most famous words of Jesus, from John 3, say that "whoever believes in [Jesus] will not perish". The word 'belief' here is from the Koine Greek root 'pistis' (1), which is also translated as 'faith' in its noun form. It absolutely carries connotations of trust, relationship, and fidelity. To the point where it is nonsense to have faith without personal consequences such as changed behavior (see James 1). So I believe your last definition fits the ideas of the Bible better. Anyway, both Christians and non-Christians in the English speaking world tend to use the word 'faith' to fit your second definition, something more like wish/hope/belief/feeling. So I can understand atheist's offense when Christians say atheism and science are each expressions of faith, but I think a lot of it comes from the sort of 'linguistic gap' you talk about. Anyway, it's a shame we don't more words to distinguish between these overloaded ideas: faith, facts, love, etc. (1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4102&t=ESV https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?str...