An Outline of Semantics for the Psychologist

Abstract

It is possible that many of the difficulties of the contemporary psychologist are related to a continued reliance on antique systems of formal logic, ancient philosophy, or hand-me-down oriental or primitive mysticism. The purpose of this paper is to indicate ways in which such factors are influencing present day psychology, with the object of creating a greater awareness of the metaphysical bases of much of our current theory and practice. The primary consideration in a paper such as this is to define the function or functions of language in scientific investigation. Korzybski (3, pp. 21-24) holds that the only possible function that words can perform is in terms of their direct influence on the inter-relationships existing between organisms and events. He illustrates this point by asking a person to define a word, any word, and then asking him to define the term or terms used in the original definition, and the terms of each successive definition, until a point is reached at which definitions either become circular (such as defining thought in terms of mind and mind in terms of thought) or the response I know but cannot tell is given. We suggest that language is essentially referential in nature and contains no 'meaning' of itself. All efforts at verbal definition must eventually end with a group of terms which cannot be defined further. Psychologically, language is a behavior situation in which a person refers someone (or is referred) to some object or event either vocally or by gesture (2). Language behavior is an adjustment of an individual to another individual and the object referred to: it is not a set of symbols that act as carriers for mysterious meanings. Language from this point of view is seen as a potential tool of science, a tool which can be of aid if the priority of the or primary datum of the science is recognized, but as Korzybski indicates, ... verbal levels are only auxiliary, sometimes useful, but at present often harmful (3, p. 23). Harm results from the fact that popular language, philosophy, and formal logic are based on the universe as it was assumed to be when