Full Idea
Philosophers can sometimes be too fussy about the words they use, dismissing as 'unintelligible' or 'obscure' certain forms of language that are perfectly meaningful by ordinary standards, and which may be of some real use.
Gist of Idea
Philosophers are often too fussy about words, dismissing perfectly useful ordinary terms
Source
Gideon Rosen (Metaphysical Dependence [2010], 01)
Book Reference
'Modality', ed/tr. Hale,B/Hoffman,A [OUP 2010], p.109
A Reaction
Analytic philosophers are inclined to drop terms they can't formalise, but there is more to every concept than its formalisation (Frege's 'direction' for example). I want to rescue 'abstraction' and 'essence'. Rosen says distinguish, don't formalise.