The Metaphysics of Philosophy, Knowledge and Morality Chapter 9

Chapter 9
Language and communication

Every language is a more or less Shared Framework of Reference for those who speak it. It never is fully shared, because a language is passed on by parents to their children without any formal opt-in mechanism. Without opting in explicitly, any speaker of a language can disagree with any word or rule of that language at any time. Language is a loosely agreed framework of reference.

Without language, our communication would be hampered a great deal, which in turn, would hurt our cooperation and prosperity.

We tend to take language for granted, but is it? I argue that it isn't. It's a Shared Framework of Reference in crisis, threatend by disfunction and disappearance. The modern world's material prosperity is eroding Shared Frameworks of Reference, and language is no exception.

Indeed, if the individual is entitled to their own beliefs about anything, they are free to believe that "table" means what some others may call a "chair" or "dog" or "tomorrow". If many individuals travel down this road, language will break down and no longer facilitate communication. Is there a way to prevent this? There are at least two straightforward ways: 1. survival stress (i.e. basic needs threated); 2. accepting the need for Shared Frameworks of Reference (i.e. reasonable behaviour).

Communication also relies on Shared Frameworks of Reference, such as language, gestures, mimics and values. Without such Frameworks, the sender of a message could have no idea whether the message was received and understood more or less as intended, or what the response is supposed to mean. Example: just as an iPhone needs an agreed protocol in order to communicate with another device, humans can't pass messages back and forth without Shared Frameworks of Reference.

It is possible to disrupt Shared Frameworks of Reference in minor ways, such as in art. The key criterion of art is that it does not merely cater for our Shared Frameworks of Reference (a.k.a. clichés or stereotypes). A work of art that satisfies all our conventional ideas is kitsch. Genuine art challenges to a degree in order to set you thinking and thereby to broaden your horizon. If it challenges too many conventions, it causes a scandal, i.e. a major disruption in our Shared Frameworks of Reference. Also, value discussions and political debates challenge Shared Frameworks of Reference, and they do so for a purpose. If all works well, new or updated Shared Frameworks of Reference arise as a result.