The fundamental fallacy of language

A post on LessWrong unpacks a fundamental problem with language: its pervasive ambiguity. The author argues we too often assume sentences have a single, clear meaning, when in reality any given text can correspond to multiple plausible interpretations. Consider 'I'm exactly six feet tall'—does 'exactly' mean no additional inches, or that you've consistently measured at the six-foot mark, or something else? The takeaway is practical: when interpreting others' words, ask what you can agree with rather than what you can argue with. That shift toward charitable interpretation is where real understanding begins.

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