10 Questions
What is the term used to refer to the word or phrase that explains the defining property of the definiendum?
Definiens
Which of the following is NOT a type of nominal definition?
Logical definition
What is the purpose of the specific differentia in a definition?
To differentiate a thing from the rest of the group
Which part of a definition provides concrete examples of the extension of the definiendum?
Denotata
In the example 'A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich', what part represents the proximate genus?
'an animal'
What is the primary purpose of a real definition?
To explain the nature of a thing and how it differs from others
Which type of definition gives the purpose or goal of a thing?
Definition by final cause
What is an example of a definition by material cause?
"Pencil is a writing instrument made of lead or charcoal enclosed in a slender piece of wood"
Which rule of a good definition states that the defined word should not be repeated in the definition?
Avoid circular definitions
What is the purpose of a definition by logical accident?
To provide an attribute that may or may not be present but is expected due to the thing's nature
Study Notes
Definitions
- Definition is composed of three elements: definiendum, definiens, and denotata.
Definiendum
- The term to be defined.
Definiens
- A word or phrase that explains or describes the defining property of the definiendum.
- It has two parts: proximate genus and specific differentia.
Proximate Genus
- The nearest general class to which a thing belongs.
Specific Differentia
- The essential characteristic that differentiates a thing from the rest of the group.
Denotata
- Provides concrete examples of the extension of the definiendum.
Kinds of Definitions
Nominal Definition
- Defines a thing according to its name or term.
- Has four subtypes: etymological, synonyms, description, and example.
Etymological Definition
- States the origin or root word of a symbol.
Synonyms Definition
- Presents another word, more popular or easily recognizable, to clarify a given term.
Description Definition
- Talks of a thing in terms of physical appearance.
Example Definition
- Explains the meaning of a word by mentioning some instances for it.
Real Definition
- Defines a thing by considering the thing per se.
- Explains what a thing is and how it is different from another.
- Also known as "essential definition".
Other Types of Definitions
Definition by Property
- Gives the attributes of a thing instead of its true specific difference.
Definition by Logical Accident
- Gives an attribute of a thing which may or may not be present in that thing, but may be expected of it owing to its nature.
Definition by Cause
- Gives the factors that contribute to the constitution of a thing as such.
- Has four subtypes: final, efficient, material, and formal.
Definition by Final Cause
- States the purpose of a thing.
Definition by Efficient Cause
- States the origin of or factor that produced the thing defined.
Definition by Material Cause
- States the stuff or material from which the thing is made.
Definition by Formal Cause
- States the form or constitutive element that makes a thing what it is.
Rules of a Good Definition
Rule 1: Avoid Circular Definitions
- Repeats the defined word in the definition.
Rule 2: Avoid Too Broad or Too Narrow Definitions
- Too broad definitions cover too much, failing to rule out things that are not part of the definition.
- Too narrow definitions exclude things that should be included in the definition.
Learn about the components of a definition including definiedum and definien, proximate genus, and specific differentia. Understand how to define terms effectively with examples like 'A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich'.
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