Re: brief survey

I'm going to delurk to answer this, because surveys are fun!

1) Do you consider yourself a linguist?

Not a professional one, no, though I'm considering it for a second major.

2) Given only the following labels, which best describes linguistics
as a discipline for you? (a) a scientific discipline  (b)  a philosophical

discipline.

Definitely scientific.

3) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
describing the purpose of linguistics for you?  (a) learning to speak many

languages.  (b) learning the structures of languages.  (c) learning how
language works in the human mind.  (d) defining and cataloging languages.
(e) defining language at large. (e) the humanistic study of language and
literature.

Wow, this one's tough. I'd have to go with B, though, if only because the
structure of language(s) is a great source of linguistic knowledge.
(Though, F is a close second.)

4) Do you consider yourself a scientist?

Well, seeing as I'm on my way to becoming an anthropologist, yes, I do
consider myself a scientist.

5) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
describing the purpose of science for you?  (a) the search for truth. (b)
use of the scientific method to create theories by proving or disproving
hypotheses (c) the process of discovering natural laws.

A or C, because they're pretty much the same thing to me.

6) Do you consider yourself a philosopher?

In a broad, vague sense, I suppose so. I'm opinionated, and most of my
opinions concern life and the way I feel it should be, so yes, perhaps.

7) Given only the following definitions, which comes closest to
describing the purpose of philosophy for you?  (a) the search for truth.
(b) the pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.

(c) the study of the nature of reality based on logical reasoning rather
than empirical methods. (d) a critical analysis of fundamental assumptions

or beliefs. (e) a discipline comprising logic, ethics, aesthetics,
metaphysics, and epistemology.

I'd have to go with B. C is a close second, but I disagree with it, mostly
because it takes a Western-centric view of philosophy, as not all cultures
value "logic" (as we think of it) as strongly as the Western tradition has.

The Aquamarine Demon

"There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." - Bertrand Russell

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com