Topic 1: The Language of Ideas

Table of Contents

1. The Language of Ideas: Introduction
2. The Language of Ideas
3. Academic language
4. Kinds of abstract words: Qualities
   1. Task 4: Formation of words for qualities
   2. Task 5: Using words for qualities
5. Kinds of abstract words: conditions
6. Kinds of abstract words: processes
7. Institutions and Systems of Belief
8. Exam Questions
9. Initial Problem Revisited
10. Journal Entry: Application Task

Kinds of abstract words: Qualities

The capacity of language to form abstract words enables us to think about qualities.

Without abstract words we could not make general statements. We could say that Ahmed was kind and Jean was clever, but we could not discuss the relative importance of such qualities as kindness and cleverness. With abstract words we can say: "Reliability is more important than inspiration."