• logicbomb@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      51
      ·
      8 months ago

      I wouldn’t even try to defend OP, but I once heard someone say that if you have more than four apples, then it is also definitely true that you have four apples.

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        8 months ago

        That’s true in a very literal sense, but there’s a whole branch of linguistics called pragmatics that’s concerned with things like why it’s usually safe to conclude that when someone says they have four apples, they mean that have only four apples. When there’s any ambiguity I talk like a mathematician and use phrases like “at least four apples” or “exactly four apples”.

          • Nelots@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            8 months ago

            On the other hand, adding a single world like “only” in there suddenly makes it completely false. Language is fun.

      • humorlessrepost@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        OP treating his statement as a correction requires that he’s not using this interpretation. If he were to use this defense, so could the teacher, so he’d just be changing how he’s wrong, not that he is.

      • gandalf_der_12te@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        8 months ago

        What if there’s a worm in one of them?

        Like, you think you habe more than four apples.

        Then you find out that most of them have worms.

        In the end, you are left with two apples.

        So now, it is not true that you have four apples.

    • Dalvoron@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      8 months ago

      As a teacher, this type of response is a great jumping off point for the discussion of curriculum vs truth, what is the extent of reality vs what is going to be on the assignment / exam etc.

      It’s also a great way to stick it to the know-it-all who is trying to undermine my credibility, and has the added bonus of perking up the rest of the class.