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| ambiguity:etymological_fallacy [07.08.26, 10:01:30] – [Reverse etymological fallacy] sascha | ambiguity:etymological_fallacy [07.08.26, 10:07:14] (current) – [“Man”] sascha |
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| This issue has already been raised elsewhere on this site in connection with terms such as the Latin "<i :la>homo</i> " or the Ancient Greek "<i :grc-Latn>ánthropos</i> " [<span :grc>ἄνθρωπος</span>]. To give just one example: an "<i :la>[[rhetoric:red_herrings:ad_hominem:index|argumentum ad hominem]]</i> " is an "argument against the person", without any gender being implied (see the linked article for more information). | This issue has already been raised elsewhere on this site in connection with terms such as the Latin "<i :la>homo</i> " or the Ancient Greek "<i :grc-Latn>ánthropos</i> " [<span :grc>ἄνθρωπος</span>]. To give just one example: an "<i :la>[[rhetoric:red_herrings:ad_hominem:index|argumentum ad hominem]]</i> " is an "argument against the person", without any gender being implied (see the linked article for more information). |
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| A similar situation exists in English. The origin of the modern word "man" originates from the Proto-Germanic root "<i :gem-pro>*mann-</i> ", which originally referred to any //person//. E.g. in Old English a qualifier was needed to specify the gender: "<i :ang>wer-man</i> " for //male// and "<i :ang>wif-man</i> " for //female//. The latter then evolved into the modern form "woman"((Interestingly, the old form still left a trace in the rather unusual pronunciation of the plural "women".)), while the old word "<i :ang>wer(e)</i> " for a //male human// almost completely disappeared(("Almost", because it is still present in the word "werewolf". However, if someone were to claim that there cannot be //female// werewolves because the word literally means "man-wolf", they would again be committing the //etymological fallacy//.)). Consequently, "man" is now used both as a collective noun for //humans// of any gender as well as a specific term for a //male human.// | A similar situation exists in English. The modern word "man" originates from the Proto-Germanic root "<i :gem-pro>*mann-</i> ", which originally referred to any //person//. We know of Old English that a //qualifier// was needed to specify the gender: "<i :ang>wer-man</i> " for //male// and "<i :ang>wif-man</i> " for //female//. The latter then evolved into the modern form "woman"((Interestingly, the old form still left a trace in the rather unusual pronunciation of the plural "women".)), while the old word "<i :ang>wer(e)</i> " for a //male human// almost completely disappeared(("Almost", because it is still present in the word "werewolf". However, if someone were to claim that there cannot be //female// werewolves because the word literally means "man-wolf", they would again be committing the //etymological fallacy//.)). Consequently, "man" is now used both as a collective noun for //humans// of any gender as well as a specific term for a //male human.// |
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| While the older meaning is still present and understood today -- for example, one can find it in the title of [[wp>Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin]]’s book "[[wp>The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex|The Descent of Man]]", or in the phrase "No man is an island" -- this usage is already starting to sound //antiquated//. It seems likely that we will eventually lose this meaning altogether and that in the future "man" will only be used to refer to a //male human.// For now, however, the term is //ambiguous.// | While the older meaning is still present and understood today -- for example, one can find it in the title of [[wp>Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin]]’s book "[[wp>The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex|The Descent of Man]]", or in the phrase "No man is an island" -- this usage is already starting to sound //antiquated//. It seems likely that we will eventually lose this meaning altogether and that in the future "man" will only be used to refer to a //male human.// For now, however, the term is //ambiguous.// |
