Disclaimer Though what follows concerns linguistics, I am not a linguist, thank God. Like all modern branches of science, linguistic science has been divorced from all teleological concerns, that is, an ultimate purpose for pursuing it. For example, ask a scientist of any kind, whether linguistic, biological, or political, the following: “For the sake of what are you engaged in this science?” They will more than likely answer, “For the sake of science.” “But science is a means, is it not? My question is, what is the ultimate goal of your pursuit of this science?” “Goal? Science has no...
