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A name for something makes us aware of other things that is not included in our first hand observation. Having a name to something makes us more aware of the other attributes that follow from the name.
A name for something makes us aware of other things that is not included in our first hand observation. Having a name to something makes us more aware of the other attributes that follow from the name.
A name for something makes us aware of other things that is not included in our first hand observation. Having a name to something makes us more aware of the other attributes that follow from the name.
I was watching a movie few days ago; there was a part wherein the protagonist was trying to give a name to the series of sensation she is feeling. These are, irregular heartbeat, and warm sensations in the stomach and face. The protagonist consulted a medical dictionary to look for the possible name to the condition. She arrived at the conclusion that what she is feeling is an arrhythmia; this is a condition wherein the heart beats with an irregular and abnormal rhythm. Arrhythmia is also a symptom of other diseases such as heart problems and cancers. After finding that out, the protagonist consulted a doctor and she asked doctor, am I going to die? the doctor laughed at her question and said what youre feeling is not arrhythmia, youre in love!. Upon realizing this, the protagonist noticed other instances that verify this conclusion. She realized that the only instance that she is in the state of these sensations is whenever she is with the other protagonist. The result is that she became weary of being around the other protagonist and would pick up other cues that would verify her, being in love. Giving a name to the sensation of the protagonist, in both instances, had made her act in such a manner aligned to the name of her condition for it seems that the name contains attributes that we would only realize when we are aware of it. The first instance, she is in the state of panic for other grave diseases could follow from arrhythmia. The second instance, she would become fluster every time she would see the other protagonist for she have an awareness of the state of emotion she is in. It seems therefore, that having a name for something makes us aware of other things that is not included on our first hand observation. We tend to notice or become aware of the other attributes that follow from the name. Consider this illustration;
Left Section Right Section
On the left section we can see images on its own and are separated from each other, for the sake of this discussion we will call these images Attributes. The right section on the other hand, the jar of attributes, we will call Name. Suppose that attribute A, B, C and D are the sensations that person X is aware of, the combination of these sensations can be found in the right section and together they are called Name Z. Notice that in Name Z there are attribute E and F that are not present in the left section. Then again, once person X has figured out that the relationship of the attribute A, B, C and D is called Name Z and because he knows that within Name Z there are still attribute E and F he becomes aware of their existence. Moreover, Name Z is not attribute A, or attribute B, C, D or even E or F; it is important to account that Name is not the attribute themselves but rather it is the attribute A, B, C, D, E and F as a whole, as well as their relationship. Having a name then, establish awareness to person X of the state of affairs included in the name Z. It seems then that a name serves as a container of interrelated attributes and a catalyst of awareness to the state of affairs that was not present during the first hand observation. I remember a line in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet during the balcony scene, Juliet said, Whats in a name? A name which calls rose by any other name would smell as sweet. What I like about this line is that it reduces a name to just an avenue for communication and defines that which is being named to its attributes, as that a rose can be called yellow, Xongyl or Periplaneta Americana but it will not deviate from itself. As what I had been saying earlier a name is merely a container of attributes of that, which is being named. Then again, although it is not the thing itself, we can talk about the state of affairs in the world conveniently because we have a name for it.