Talk:minimalist

RFV discussion: January–February 2022

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minimalist, maximalist

Rfv-senses "(sciences, linguistics) (usually of a model or theory) Involving a small/large number of features or parameters, perhaps fewer/more than necessary"

Is this common enough to be included as a separate sense? What kind of parameters? Is this for statistical models? – Jberkel 22:45, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

In linguistics there is the so-called Minimalist program, stemming from the title of Chomsky’s essay, “A minimalist program for linguistic theory”. When Chomsky penned down that title, I don’t think his intention was to introduce a new sense for an existing adjective, but currently the adjective is used by linguists to mean “conforming to the aspirations of the Minimalist program” (as, e.g., in “Minimalist grammar”; note that this article speaks of “the mainstream Minimalist literature” – which does definitely not refer to Kmart realism). Used in this Chomskyan sense, the adjective is often written with a capital letter. I’m not aware of a more general use in such a restricted sense in other fields of science.  --Lambiam 23:54, 19 January 2022 (UTC)

Is the Chomskyan sense used with maximalist as well? The definitions added by the IP suggest they are used as a pair. – Jberkel 00:45, 20 January 2022 (UTC)

I don't think so. Also, if I saw a reference to a "maximalist model" or "maximalist theory", I'd expect it not to mean to signify that the model or theory has a large number of features (not a good thing), but that it aims to cover a comprehensive range of phenomena (a good thing). So, not only should a “maximalist” theory of colour vision explain the usual colour space in relation to the spectral sensitivity profiles of the types of rod cells of the retina, but also The dress and the checker shadow illusion.  --Lambiam 09:45, 22 January 2022 (UTC)

RFV-failed – Jberkel 18:51, 22 February 2022 (UTC)