Most of the times when the American is confused at the Brits idea of putting galoshes in the boot, or the Brits are shocked when told that African women don’t wear pants, the problem is ignorance, and the result is confusion. But occasionally a highly intelligent person can deliberately use the same word, in the same discourse, to mean two very different things… or even more. This has traditionally been called the ‘Fallacy of Equivocation’, and is a bad thing.
Equivocation: Podcast Version
Equivocation: Podcast Version
Equivocation: Podcast Version
Most of the times when the American is confused at the Brits idea of putting galoshes in the boot, or the Brits are shocked when told that African women don’t wear pants, the problem is ignorance, and the result is confusion. But occasionally a highly intelligent person can deliberately use the same word, in the same discourse, to mean two very different things… or even more. This has traditionally been called the ‘Fallacy of Equivocation’, and is a bad thing.