The Fuzz word
by
Bodhangkur
According to New Oxford Dictionary opinion, a word
is defined as: a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing; or
as: a single distinct conceptual unit of language. For ‘an element of speech’ read: a (complete) sound
bite For ‘an element of writing’ read: an ended (hence
quantised) non-linear scratch. For ‘fuzzy’ read: unclear, foggy, cloudy, therefore incomplete and
uncertain. A fuzz word is a single indistinct
because multiple or incomplete meaning element of
speech or writing, and so on. A fuzz word appears to the naïve hearer as a distinct, single meaning word
because the hearer (or reader) does not discriminate. Basically
what happens is that the naïve hearer (or reader) superimposes her (or his)
own meaning, derived from his or her own experience, upon the word, thereby
making it distinct (hence a unit). In principle, every word is fuzzy in that every word is a metaphor,
that is to say, a word merely represents (i.e. in a different shape, hence
i.e. symbolises or iconises for more efficient use) a (complex) personal
experience but is not actually that experience. A word is an arbitrary
sound bite (or scratch mark) on an arbitrary map that is not an actual
territory. Hence the actual meaning of a word changes
from territory (i.e. from user) to territory (i.e. to user). In practice, a word is fuzzy if and when it conveys multiple
meanings or concepts. Obviously, such words as ‘home’, ‘I’, ‘car’, ‘heaven’
or ‘God’ are fuzzy. A fuzz word is created (deliberately) if and when
an experience is fuzzy. Since it presents as a single unit, it initially appears
distinct (i.e. closed), thereby suggesting that the experience (hence
personal meaning) it symbolises is also distinct. However, if understood as
fuzzy, the word cannot be processed to closure, hence leaves the individual
in a kind of trance during which he or she cannot respond. A distinct (because ended, closed) word (i.e. a
symbolic surface structure) is created to symbolize a (usually vast, complex
and every changing) fuzzy experience in order to
close, end or limit that experience and make it manageable. A non-fuzzy (i.e. a closed or unitised experience
symbolised with a) word becomes fuzzy (i.e. open ended, uncertain, hence of diminishing semantic
content) if and when it symbolises many different
meanings derived from many different experiences. A non-fuzzy (single meaning) word becomes fuzzy if and
when it is examined discretely (i.e. in
depth) to the detail of the original and usually extremely complex experience
is uncovered. Hence, ‘the devil (Pali: mara, derived from mata, meaning death) is in the detail’. In other
words, clean communication happens only if detail is deleted, for instance,
as in maths where the numeral 1 can only operate (as a universal or absolute)
because it is un-referenced. The Heart
Sutra’s infamous claim that “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form” was
made possible by deleting the detail ‘of inherent essence’ (≈ atta). Politicians (who seek to control and manipulate the
outer life) and priests (who seek to control and manipulate the inner life)
use fuzz words (fundamentally red herrings) deliberately either to indicate a general direction to be
followed (or experience to be achieved), thereby avoiding a clearly defined
(with detail) goal and responsibility for failure, or to confuse or create
anxiety or fear, the latter functions being their primary mode of softening
(i.e. opening) up the already confused and anxious, thereby sustaining or
increasing control and power over them (a method frequently used by Wall
Street investment bankers hustling people to invest in sub-prime mortgages). The Buddha’s most expedient fuzz words (the first 2 have multiple meanings, the other 3 no clear
meaning) representing his key notions are: Dukkha Atta
Dhamma Tathagata Buddha
Samma-sambodhi Nirvana. The main Christian fuzz (because
detail deleted) words are: God,
Christ, holy, heaven, spirit (≈
pneuma ≈
breath), soul (≈psyche), sin, redemption.
Copyright ©2020
by Victor
Langheld |