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Definition is the basis of language. Without a common understanding of terms, there can be no discussion. Anything that has not been falsified is theory unless it is proven to be true. Without a common understanding of terms, how can we know that a statement has been proven false? Mathematics is the most rigorous language in the sense that there is nearly universal understanding of terms among professional mathematicians, but it is still a language. The answer to your question is unambiguous; if a dog has a set of appendages that we will call "Legs" that consists of four of what we commonly call legs plus one tail, then the number of elements in the set of "Legs" is equal to 5. We could say that the set L = {a,a,a,a,b). Either way, it is simply a matter of definition - not really a 'goofy game'.
I think you have it the other way around. Definitions are based on language. Language is based on meaning. I knew the meaning of the word "red" before I had any definition for it, and I'd guess that so did you.
I had assumed the audience had heard the joke before. The punch line: "Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it one."
Which is the sort of thing that could be called "problematic on so many levels" — or just "goofy".
5[anonymous]
Be wary when issuing grand proclamations about language, lest you wind up looking silly to the linguistically-knowledgeable.
Here's the new thread for posting quotes, with the usual rules: