Discussing abstract topics
Discuss abstract ideas — success, freedom, happiness, fairness — by defining terms, using examples and exploring complexity.
In this lesson you will
- Define and clarify abstract concepts
- Move between abstract ideas and concrete examples
- Explore complexity and tension between values
Learn
Define first: abstract discussions go wrong when people mean different things. It depends what we mean by success. If we define it as…, then… ; In the broadest sense, …
Abstract ↔ concrete: support big ideas with examples, and draw general principles from examples: Take, for instance… ; This illustrates a wider point: … ; In practical terms, …
Tension between values: There’s a trade-off between freedom and security. ; Taken to an extreme, … ; The two aren’t necessarily incompatible.
Useful abstract vocabulary: fulfilment, integrity, autonomy, equity, wellbeing, perception, notion, principle, value, dilemma.
Examples
- It depends what we mean by freedom — freedom from something, or freedom to do something?
- In practical terms, fairness might mean equal access rather than equal outcomes.
- There’s a trade-off between privacy and convenience.
- Taken to an extreme, even honesty can be harmful.
Vocabulary
abstract
existing as an idea, not physically
autonomy
independence, self-government
trade-off
balance between two things you can’t fully have together
notion
an idea or belief
dilemma
a difficult choice
Practice
Why define terms in abstract discussion?
Speaking
Discuss for two minutes each: “Is success more about luck or effort?” and “Can a society be both free and safe?” Define terms, give examples and discuss trade-offs.
Writing
Write a reflective essay (220–260 words) on “What makes a life meaningful?”, defining your terms and using concrete examples.
Lesson quiz
“Notion” means…
Review
Key points
- Define terms.
- Move between abstract and concrete.
- Explore trade-offs and extremes.
- Abstract vocabulary.
What you learned
- ✓ I can discuss abstract topics.
- ✓ I define and illustrate ideas.
- ✓ I explore complexity.