Abstraction

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
1

I’ve been considering the process of abstraction.

It’s a tool. A tool is neutral. It’s application is dependant on whoever wields it.

I’ve recently encountered people who I believe use abstraction as a means denial. This strikes me as very insincere. What I mean to say is that, this tool was used to justify positions which the people would not admit if addressed directly.

I’m not saying all abstraction is insincere or without merit, but rather that one ought be sceptical of those who aren’t willing address positions directly, and hide behind multiple layers of abstraction, or attempt to cloud the positions between multiple levels of abstraction.

Anyone else feel the same?

2

Yes, what you say is true. I see this too, people escape into vague, abstract-like thinking in order to generate the appearance of something without actually producing or stating it. It is a kind of rhetorical device, and what’s worse is they play this trick on themselves, too.

A lot of what is considered normal “thinking” is precisely this kind of trickery. As you say, a lack of being specific enough.