Amelioration vs Perversion

Abstract

Words change meaning, usually in unpredictable ways. But some words’ meanings are revised intentionally. Revisionary projects are normally put forward in the service of some purpose—some serve specific goals of inquiry, and others serve ethical, political or social aims. Revisionist projects can ameliorate meanings, but they can also pervert. This chapter draws attention to the dangers of meaning perversions, and argues that the self-declared goodness of a revisionist project doesn’t suffice to avoid meaning perversions. The road to Hell, or to horrors on Earth, is paved with good intentions. Finally, and more importantly, it tries to demarcate what meaning perversions are, in the hope that it will help us assess the moral and political legitimacy of revisionary projects.