Is language always and necessarily ambiguous?

"Is language always and necessarily ambiguous? Words guide friendships, laws, promises, and arguments, and still they so often seem to slip, misfire, or invite disagreement. One may wonder whether this is a flaw that could, in principle, be repaired, or whether ambiguity belongs to language as such. When misunderstandings arise, we instinctively try to clarify—but that effort itself carries a hidden assumption. Clarification is meaningful only if it is possible to replace the ambiguous with the unambiguous. If no such replacement were possible, then confusion would not be an accident of language, but its essential condition."

Each of us has his or her own philosophical history and journey, and during these walks, we introduce each other to our recent questions and reflections. There is no assigned reading, no required text. Bring your own recommendations, or see what has been recommended by others before. In this dropbox folder you'll find texts and videos that have been discussed on previous occasions. You'll also find a list of recommended texts, if you are new to philosophy.

We gather at Flywheel Coffee, near Stanyan and Page. At exactly 11:15am, we'll be just outside the front door, and begin a hike through Golden Gate Park, returning to Flywheel by 1:00pm. During the walk, we'll discuss your philosophical topics, whatever they may be. If it looks like it'll rain, we'll dip into a restaurant instead.