Unspeak

Unspeak

Once upon a time in China, a philosopher was asked the first thing he
would do if he became a ruler. The philosopher thought for a while, and
then said: well, if something had to be put first, I would rectify the names
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of things. His companion was baffled: what did this have to do with good
government? The philosopher lamented his companion’s foolishness, and
explained. When the names for things are incorrect, speech does not
sound reasonable, when speech does not sound reasonable, things are not
done properly; when things are not done properly, the structure of society
is harmed; when the structure of society is harmed, punishments do not
fit the crimes; and when punishments do not fit the crimes; the people do
not know what to do.
The philosophers name was Confucius, and he was referring to a
phenomenon that is all around us today. He was talking about Unspeak