Sociological Semanticide: On Reification, Tautology and the Destruction of Language

Abstract

AbstractClassification, a fundamental human act, is the ultimate foundation of science, as well as the basis of everyday life. Exercising the prerogatives of science and the arts, the social sciences are rich in metaphoric classifications: mechanistic, organismic, systemic, and dramaturgical to name a few. Metaphors like similes, parables, and models are useful tools only as long as they are remembered as what they are—constructs. A beguiling temptation exists to treat such classifications literally as reified entities and as hypostasized tautologies. This paper addresses the misuse of language—acmanticide—in the social sciences and particularly the sociological concepts of attitude, norm, and role. Semanticide occurs when these concepts are converted from behavioral descriptions into tautological causes. A renewed emphasis on the philosophy and sociology of language is needed.