C. L. provides us with two definitions of the word culture in order to illustrate what a persuasive definition can accomplish:
- The original definition: "widely read and acquainted with arts"
- The persuasive definition: "imaginative sensitivity"
Both carry with them the positive emotive meaning of culture; it is still a good thing to be cultured no matter which definition is used. What they change is what exactly it means to be called "cultured." Because being cultured is a positive trait, the society views being well read and and acquainted with the arts as positive traits to have. By promoting a persuasive definition of "imaginative sensitivity" the society begins to views those qualities positively because they are attached to a word with a positive emotive meaning.[1]
- ^ Stevenson, Charles Leslie (1938-01-01). "Persuasive Definitions". Mind. 47 (187): 331–350.