Brief Reflection On Definitions

How crucial are correct or precise definitions?  Very.  But can we know truths even apart from definitions?  Certainly.

It is vital to adequately define terms during debate, personal reflection, and less formal philosophical and theological conversation because otherwise people may equivocate terms, use contrary words interchangeably, or become confused due to use of the same word in different contexts without signaling a change in intended meaning.  If I did not know what I mean when I use the words "God", "morality", "epistemology", and "philosophy", I would not be capable of conveying positions on these things to others.  For instance, in a debate about God's existence, the definition of God employed is of the utmost significance to the discussion because that definition will set the parameters and goal of the debate.  If one party is trying to prove a timeless being exists which is responsible for the creation of the universe and the other party is arguing that there is no such thing as a deity like Ares (who in Greek mythology are not responsible for creation and are not even immaterial or invulnerable to wounds), each side is referring to very different deities.  This hinders conversation and debate and can immensely frustrate both parties.

However, despite the necessity and cruciality of consistent and precise definitions in dialogues, an individual can fully comprehend a concept without ever knowing the definition philosophers or historians or theologians or scientists would ascribe to it.  Before I knew what the words relativism, objectivism, axiom, logical fallacy, absurdism, Occam's razor, empirical testing, and counterfactual meant, I knew the concepts already.  I simply did not know them by their proper philosophical names.  In a world without verbal or written language, I would still know or at least could still discover what these concepts are.  Without definitions or language one may not be able to communicate ideas or thoughts about particular concepts but humans could still know the ideas themselves.

Words are, after all, a purely social construct, even if language itself was created by God.  However, the concepts words are used to express are absolute, objective, and unchanging, not the words themselves.  Definitions are indispensable for communication and conversation but wholly unnecessary for individuals to just know or reflect on concepts.  Define terms well when talking with others, but contemplate known ideas themselves when in solitude.