Definition of Terms
•definiendum •definience
(2) categories of definition
•nominal •real definition
(2) types of definition
•definition by description •definition by cause
(2) types of non-essential
•essential •non-essential
(2) types of real definition
•final cause •efficient cause •material cause •formal cause •genetic cause
(5) types of definition by cause
essential
constructed by a genus and a sepcific difference Ex. man is a rational animal
ostensive definition
definition by simple identification
definition by example
definitions that gives am example of a definition for a more concrete understanding of the term to be defined
real definition
expresses what the thing is
definition by illustration
gives a clear picture of the definiendum through the sue of illistrations in order to picture the meaning of the term
synonymous
gives the same connotation of the term. Connotation refers to the group of characteristocs essential to the term
adequacy
must be specific, not broad, not narrow Ex. A sqaure is a four-sided polygon
brief
must not be circular Ex. a cookbook is a book for cooking
positive
must not be negative Ex. beautiful is not ugly
definition by description
provides a defnition as to it's physical appearance
•to increase one's vocabulary •to minimize ambiguity/vagueness •to set a theoretical framework •to influence attitudes
purpose of definition
material cause
refers to the stuff out of which something else is created Ex. the candy is made from cactus
•clarity •adequacy •positive •brief
rules of good definition
Definiendum
the word being defined
definiens
the word or group of words that does the defining
formal cause
this is thay which makes a thing what it is. what is its form and appearance Ex. the ice scultpure is in the form of a swan
etymological
thw def. derived from the meaning of the original word or words drom which the definiendum is derived
definition
to define a term explain it's meaning
•etymological •synonymous •definition by description •definition by example •definition by illustration •ostensive definition
types of nominal definition by NAME
Final Cause
used for statement of aims and for man-made articles Ex. a thermometer is an instrucment used to measure body temperature
genetic cause
which gives the provedure or operation out of which the thing results Ex. this is how to bake a cake. (explain how)
efficient cause
which the description of activities point to the cause of these activities (its origin) Ex. leukemia is a disease caused by abnormal increase in the leukocytes in the tissue and often in the blood
clarity
•def. should have avoid ambiguity and vagueness •must not be obscure •must not be figurative •Ex. happiness is a way station too little and too much
definition by description (at non-essential)
•proper set of characeristics •set of formal features •the properties •origin of the object
