Blagojevich, The Solipsist
Sometimes I wish I was a journalist. The dream usually hits me when I read essays that manage to not just report the news, but also put it in the proper sociatal context. James Poniewozik did this recently in a brillant article on Ex-Governor Rod Blagojavich’s recent media blitz, and what it tells us about society (and reality TV!). You can read it here.
The reason I’m writing about it is that Poniewozik (what a fun word to say…) used a word to describe Blagojevich that I didn’t know: solipsist. In case you don’t know it either, solipsism is defined as:
1. The theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist.
2. Extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one’s feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption.
The philosophy, the word, and its usage to describe Blagojevich really intruiged me, so I dug a little deeper. Here’s what I found on the logic (?) behind this philosophy:
I cannot be sure anyone else feels any emotions that I feel. Since our only source of knowledge of the world is our personal senses (eyes, ears, etc.), it could be argued that one only knows that he or she exists. Is it possible that our senses betray us, and that all we see and hear are but tricks played on us by our mind?
Very Matrix-like. The etymology of the word is also interesting:
Latin solus “alone” +ipse “self” + -ism. “Solus” is the origin of “solo” but also can be found in “solitary,” “soliloquy,” and “desolate.” In the Germanic languages it became solein “alone,” devolving into English “sullen.”
I like the word sullen, and didn’t know it came from the same root. Very interesting. Anyway, back to why I’m writing about it here. Two reasons, really.
One, I feel it is important for Keri and I to teach you new words that you can throw into everyday conversation to feel smart. This particular word has an added bonus in that you’d probably be able to insult someone without them knowing it. It’s always handy to have a word like that lying around.
Second, I’m surprised that Poniewozik (hmm, it gets funnier each time you say it) used this word in a major magazine article. I’m sure most people just glossed over it and didn’t think about it again. But I applaud Mr. Poniewozik (he he) for not selling out and using a lesser word when solipsist is clearly the absolute best fit for what he’s trying to say. So let’s take that as a lesson. When faced with a choice between using a perfect word or dumbing it down – use the perfect word. That’s how language stays alive and vibrant.
Keri on February 10th, 2009
Because I’m apparently argumentative today…
You said: “When faced with a choice between using a perfect word or dumbing it down – use the perfect word. That’s how language stays alive and vibrant.”
What if the “perfect word” alienates your audience? What if your audience has no idea what you’re talking about and has no interest in looking up what you just said? If your point is lost using that word, is it still perfect?
I was talking with my cousin recently. He finally said to me, “You know, Keri, you’re a really cool person, but your vocabulary’s an asshole.” He said it in an affectionate way (as much as one can say that word in an affectionate way), but it was a good lesson. Know your audience. What may be the perfect word to me may not be so perfect to the recipient.