Two and a half centuries ago Confucius understood that clear and accurate language describing civic norms and behaviors is essential in promoting political and social order. The Analects of Confucius states: “If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things. If language be not in accordance with the truth of things, affairs cannot be carried on to success.” When words (names) do not accurately express meaning and truth, people have no way to understand the truth. Negative consequences follow. Indeed, if language becomes corrupted, civic disorder results. Confucius urged a “rectification of names.” Some might prefer the message from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no!” (Matthew 5:37).
Current social and political disorder is evident. Chaos in language is one cause of chaos in our society. Turmoil and conflict accompany meaningless words and confusing pronouncements. The problem seems to be getting worse, not better.
Words are used intentionally to abuse and mislead, not to increase understanding or wisdom. Emotional power of words is employed to create fear, anger, hatred and division. For example, fascist, Nazi, terrorist or socialist demean opponents. Entire groups are tarred with stereotypical designations like communist, traitor or evangelical, even if little evidence implicates targeted individuals. Extravagant adjectives and superlatives have emotional power, for example, radical, extreme, far-left, far-right, worst or greatest appear with little exact meaning. Moreover, those who shout loudest seem to know least about the history or fine distinctions of words and language used. It is like spraying poison on the community garden.
The news media and our educational institutions have served us well in promoting clear use of language to inform the public, which is essential to preserve our democracy. Nevertheless, powerful, complex and seemingly irresistible new pressures destabilize both.
“All the news fit to print” has been a rallying cry of responsible journalism. The rapid move from print page to digital image is disorienting. Trusted news sources are pushed aside by unmediated tweets or virtual postings of what anyone who wants, says anything at all, to whom it may concern, thereby attracting millions of hits. Tabloid rumor, hypothetical prediction, fluff of entertainment or sports, statements of so-called celebrities, infomercials, and titillating leud images and narratives once reserved for traveling carnival side shows are now displayed in virtual full color disguised as news. Headlines become hypothetical questions. Little distinction exists between editorials, op-ed opinions and the work of the newsroom. Displays of outrageous behavior transform nobodies into instant virtual celebrities. Comedians play politicians on TV, and politicians act like fools. Both are presented as news. All the news fit to print has become anything in digital form that some advertiser will purchase or a numbed public will watch. Distinguishing news from fake news and trusting reliable guides for civic policies are frustrating. Preserving and protecting responsible journalism in both print and virtual forms is more important than ever.
The schools and colleges face fundamental issues of truth and meaning. Postmodern and anti-Enlightenment thought emerge as current priorities in academic disciplines, study and teaching. Valuable insights can result. However, little restraint exists on deconstruction, suspicion, situational ethics and relativism in many academic areas. Every proposition of truth and every social institution is deconstructed. The old mantra, “Victors write the history” has evolved into attacks on claims to objectivity and truth. Whereas, historians once served to keep everyone honest. Now history is displaced by his-story, her-story, my-story, your story and their-story engaged in conflict, with few standards for adjudication except raw power tending toward violence. The wisdom in the sociology of knowledge that the perceiver’s social location influences understanding of truth morphs into a normative philosophical proposition. What to teach that every citizen should know and about how one should act in a civil democracy becomes increasingly unclear. The future requires work on an intellectual tradition sufficiently expansive to be effective, open to be inclusive, and strong to support E pluribus unum, that is, out of many, one!
Misuse of language by leaders and by many of us communicating with friends and neighbors makes it difficult for citizens to sort truth from falsehood and such distortion grinds away “two pillars of our democracy — truth and trust” as Thomas Friedman wrote recently in the New York Times.
Criticism and deconstruction are relatively easy. Building revised paths forward to a better future for everyone is extremely difficult. Ordinary citizens feel increasingly powerless to support civic order and democratic institutions. Two suggestions help. Believe that truth exists and coming closer to it is a blessing, even though none of us possesses all truth, and then search diligent for truth. In doing so, learn from those who know and speak clearly and ignore those with loud megaphones who know nothing. We in Montgomery County might speak clearly and work together to preserve our democratic institutions.
Raymond B. Williams, LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities emeritus Wabash College, contributed this guest column.
