{"id":6453,"date":"2016-05-07T15:18:08","date_gmt":"2016-05-07T15:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maverickphilosopher.blog\/index.php\/2016\/05\/07\/a-mistaken-definition-of-political-correctness-and-a-correct-definition\/"},"modified":"2016-05-07T15:18:08","modified_gmt":"2016-05-07T15:18:08","slug":"a-mistaken-definition-of-political-correctness-and-a-correct-definition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maverickphilosopher.blog\/index.php\/2016\/05\/07\/a-mistaken-definition-of-political-correctness-and-a-correct-definition\/","title":{"rendered":"A Mistaken Definition of ‘Political Correctness’ and a ‘Correct’ Definition"},"content":{"rendered":"

One often reads the following definition of political correctness.  "Someone who is politically correct believes that language and actions that could be offensive to others, especially<\/a> those relating to sex and race, should be avoided." Here<\/a>.  Merriam-Webster, Wikipedia, and other sources offer similar definitions.
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This is not at all what 'political correctness' means when used by people in the know.  The above definition conflates being politically correct with being polite, civil, and respectful of others and it conflates being politically incorrect with being rude, offensive, and disrespectful of others.   For example, Donald Trump was not being politically incorrect when he made his vile comments about Megan Kelly and Carly Fiorina.  He was being rude and offensive in a politically foolish display of misogyny.
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It is worth noting that in some cases rude and offensive speech is justified as a response to same.  Justified or not, the politically incorrect and the rude\/offensive\/disrespectful are separate categories.  A Venn diagram may help where the A region below contains politically incorrect statements and behaviors, the B region contains rude\/offensive\/disrespectful statements and behaviors, and the intersection of the two classes contains statements and behaviors that are both.  For example, suppose someone says, 'Broads do not belong in the Navy SEALs or the Army Rangers.'  This statement is both rude\/offensive\/disrespectful and politically incorrect while 'Women do not belong in Navy SEALs or the Army Rangers' is politically incorrect but not (objectively) offensive.  Of course, one might take inappropriate offense at the second statement, but that is his or her problem. People, cry bullies and liberals especially, take offense at the damndest things!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Venn\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One way to define a term is extensionally<\/em> by giving a list of the items to which it applies.  These are the items that fall within the extension<\/em> of the term.  I will now provide  a list of some politically incorrect statements and then ask what they have in common.  This will allow us to pin down the intension<\/em> of the term 'politically incorrect,' and from there the intension of 'politically correct.' Here then are some politically incorrect statements:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n