There are many words--even in medicine and law--that don't accurately describe what they are meant to describe. Last week, I observed two people--both on the same side of the climate change argument--nearly go to blows over the term "fossil fuels," because this term is deemed inaccurate. I am told that oil, coal, and gas are not literall…
There are many words--even in medicine and law--that don't accurately describe what they are meant to describe. Last week, I observed two people--both on the same side of the climate change argument--nearly go to blows over the term "fossil fuels," because this term is deemed inaccurate. I am told that oil, coal, and gas are not literally derived from fossils. They are more accurately termed "biomass fuels," but few people would know what this was when used in conversation.
Likewise, "death by natural causes" is not accurate. "Natural," assuming humans are part of the natural world, is not a descriptor--although used by coroners and law enforcement--to represent a death other than in the natural way, i.e., like that would occur in nature. And death in nature is a usually violent killing followed by being eaten, not the quiet, peaceful demise in one's sleep that we would all be privileged to experience.
To die peacefully in one's sleep is indeed, unnatural. For accuracy, we need a better word.
There are many words--even in medicine and law--that don't accurately describe what they are meant to describe. Last week, I observed two people--both on the same side of the climate change argument--nearly go to blows over the term "fossil fuels," because this term is deemed inaccurate. I am told that oil, coal, and gas are not literally derived from fossils. They are more accurately termed "biomass fuels," but few people would know what this was when used in conversation.
Likewise, "death by natural causes" is not accurate. "Natural," assuming humans are part of the natural world, is not a descriptor--although used by coroners and law enforcement--to represent a death other than in the natural way, i.e., like that would occur in nature. And death in nature is a usually violent killing followed by being eaten, not the quiet, peaceful demise in one's sleep that we would all be privileged to experience.
To die peacefully in one's sleep is indeed, unnatural. For accuracy, we need a better word.
I believe that Mark Twain said something like, "In nature, it's murder all around..."