THE DIMENSIONS OF AN IDEA: AMBIGUITY DEFINED.

The article discusses ambiguity and clarity of speech. Aristotle noted clarity as a criterion of style, "Style to be good must be clear, as is proved by the fact that speech which fails to convey a plain meaning will fail to do just what speech has to do." He went on to say, "Words of ambiguous meaning are chiefly useful to enable the sophist to mislead his hearers." Astrologers have based a thriving business on astute use of ambiguous phrases. Greek oracles were even more successful in gaining power and riches through careful use of ambiguity. Ambiguity has also been used by sources of almost unimpeachable character.