Definitions

Question 1

Definition: definiendum.

Answer 1

In any definition, the word or symbol being defined (e.g. a-p-p-l-e or “apple”).

Question 2

Definition: definiens.

Answer 2

In any definition, a symbol or group of symbols that is said to have the same meaning as the definiendum (e.g. a small red fruit with sweet flesh).

Question 3

Definition: stipulative definition.

Answer 3

A definition in which a new symbol is introduced to which some meaning is arbitrarily assigned; as opposed to a lexical definition, a stipulative definition cannot be correct or incorrect.

Question 4

What are the five kinds/functions of definition?

Identify and define.

Answer 4

1. stipulative, or “nominal” (meaning deliberately assigned to some symbol as a proposal; directive rather than informative, not true or false)
2. lexical (reports meaning definiendum already has; informative?, true or false)
3. precising (eliminate ambiguity and/or vagueness)
4. theoretical (compressed summary of theory)
5. persuasive (put forward to resolve dispute by stirring emotions)

Question 5

Definition: ambiguous.

Answer 5

Term has more than one distinct meaning and contexts fails to clarify which is intended.

Question 6

Definition: vague.

Answer 6

Term may or may not apply to borderline cases.

Question 7

Definition: extension(al meaning).

Name synonym.

Answer 7

Refers to the collection of objects that constitutes the extension of the meaning (e.g. the eight planets).

Synonym: denotation/denotative meaning.

Question 8

Definition: intension(al meaning).

Name synonym.

Answer 8

Refers to the criteria for deciding (common attributes or characteristics) whether something falls within the extension of a term (e.g. astronomical bodies that are x, y, z). Determines the extension.

Synonym: connotation/connotative meaning.

Question 9

What are the three types of extensional definitions?

Name synonym.

Answer 9

1. definition by example (give examples)
2. ostensive (or “demonstrative”) definition (objects denoted by the term being defined are referred to by means of pointing, or with some other gesture)
3. quasi-ostensive definition (relies upon gesture, in conjunction with a descriptive phrase)

Synonym: denotative definition.

Question 10

What are the three types of intension?

Name synonym.

Answer 10

1. subjective intension (set of attributes believed by speaker to belong to all objects denoted by word)
2. objective intension (set of attributes belonging to all objects in the word’s extension–impossible to know without omniscience, so not public meaning)
3. conventional intension (commonly accepted set of attributes believed by public to decide whether the object is part of the extension of the term)

Synonym (infrequent): connotation.

Question 11

What are the three types of intensional definitions?

Name synonym (two synonyms for one of the types).

Answer 11

1. synonymous definition (using words with the same meaning)
2. operational definition (conditional upon performance of specified operations yielding a specified result)
3. definition by genus and difference (or “analytical definitions,” or “definitions per genus et differentia”) (first identifies class–i.e. genus–of which it is a subclass, then the attribute that distinguishes it from members of all other species within the class, e.g. cat is a mammal that loves lasers)

Question 12

What makes an entity part of the same genus vs. part of the same species?

Answer 12

Members of a genus (larger) all share a common characteristic, while members of a specific species (smaller) within a genus have a further distinguishing attribute in common.

Question 13

Definition: specific difference.

Answer 13

The shared attribute that marks a species off from other species within its genus.

Question 14

How do you define a term by genus and difference?

Answer 14

1. identify genus

2. identify specific difference

Question 15

Definition: summum genus.

Answer 15

The highest (“universal”) class (no genus above it).

Question 16

What are the rules for appraising definitions by genus and difference?

Identify and explain.

Answer 16

1. state essential attributes of the species
2. not circular
3. neither too broad nor too narrow
4. no ambiguous/obscure/figurative language
5. negative < affirmative