Terminological Takeover

Abstract

Philosophers introduce terms to express concepts in service of particular motivations. When a theorist argues that an existing term should express a different concept instead, this constitutes a terminological takeover. I argue that when a term has been stipulatively introduced, the original motivation constrains what can permissibly be done with it going forward. A takeover is impermissible when the challenger’s reasons are insensitive to that motivation. This illuminates a limit on legitimate philosophical argumentation, a principled account of impermissible topic change, and a distinctive constraint on conceptual engineering.