Chapter 2

Can a definition be both too broad and too narrow at the same time? a. Yes, because it can both include referents incorrectly and exclude referents incorrectly. b. Yes, because all definitions that are too broad must also be too narrow. c. No, because these are opposites. d. No, because if it is too broad, it will be a genus, and if too narrow, it will be a species. e. No, because if a concept has too many referents, it can't also have too few.

a. Yes, because it can both include referents incorrectly and exclude referents incorrectly.

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? cat: a small, white, four-legged mammal a. both too broad and too narrow b. too narrow c. neither too broad nor too narrow d. It depends on the identity of the person who is defining the word. e. too broad

a. both too broad and too narrow

What is the differentia of the following definition? A piano is a type of instrument that is played by pressing keys. a. played by pressing keys b. type of instrument c. piano d. that e. type

a. played by pressing keys

The problem with vague, obscure, or metaphorical definitions is that: a. they are unclear b. they are too wordy c. they are too precise to allow for flexibility d. they provide too much information e. they require too much imagination

a. they are unclear

Circular definitions are definitions that: a. use concepts to define themselves b. only mention the genus, but omit the differentia c. are too broad and too narrow at the same time d. only mention the differentia, but omit the genus e. include the word "circle"

a. use concepts to define themselves

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? prune: what you get when you dry a plum a. It uses metaphorical language. b. It has no genus. c. It uses negative terms unnecessarily. d. It is too narrow. e. It is circular.

b. It has no genus.

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? NutraSweet: an artificial sweetener that is not sugar a. It has no genus. b. It uses negative terms unnecessarily. c. It uses obscure language. d. It is too narrow. e. It uses metaphorical language.

b. It uses negative terms unnecessarily.

The differentia of a concept is/are: a. the best example of the concept b. the characteristic(s) that separate it from other species in its genus c. a measure of how broad the concept is d. any helpful example of the concept e. the characteristic(s) that separate it from its genus

b. the characteristic(s) that separate it from other species in its genus

A definition should include: a. all available information about the concept b. the essential attributes of the concept c. the etymology of the word for the concept d. the esoteric attributes of the concept e. only one attribute of the concept

b. the essential attributes of the concept

What is the genus in the following definition? Dancing is how we express our inner feelings with our bodies. a. dancing b. express c. There is no genus. d. bodies e. inner feelings

c. There is no genus.

Can a definition violate more than one of the rules discussed in the chapter? a. No, because a flawed definition is always flawed in exactly one way. b. No, because the rules are all mutually exclusive. c. Yes, because a definition might be very poorly constructed. d. Yes, because violating any rule would necessarily involve violating another. e. Yes, because every definition violates at least two rules.

c. Yes, because a definition might be very poorly constructed.

A metaphorical definition is one that: a. only gives the literal meaning of the word, but leaves out important connotations b. has too many differentia c. doesn't convey the literal meaning of the concept, but only an analogy d. makes you feel good about the word without telling you what it means e. includes abstract or technical terms

c. doesn't convey the literal meaning of the concept, but only an analogy

A definition is too narrow when: a. it is only one person's opinion b. it includes things that are not referents of the concept c. it fails to include things that are referents of the concept d. most people would disagree with it e. it doesn't say enough about the concept

c. it fails to include things that are referents of the concept

Having too many differentia could make a definition __________, whereas having too few differentia could make it __________. a. obscure; vague b. circular; too narrow c. too narrow; too broad d. too broad; vague e. circular; too broad

c. too narrow; too broad

An obscure definition is one that: a. includes several useful examples of the concept being defined b. uses poetic imagery and flowery language without saying anything literal about the concept being defined c. uses abstract or technical language that is more difficult to understand than the concept itself d. contains too much information to be useful e. doesn't include any examples of the concept being defined

c. uses abstract or technical language that is more difficult to understand than the concept itself

Which of the following definitions is too broad? a. Zeus is the ruler of the Greek gods. b. A dog is the domesticated form of the grey wolf. c. An insect is an ant or beetle. d. A fish is an animal that lives underwater. e. Baghdad is the capital city of Iraq.

d. A fish is an animal that lives underwater.

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? gallon: the volume of matter required to fill a one-gallon jug a. It uses obscure language. b. It is too broad. c. It uses metaphorical language. d. It is circular. e. It has no differentia.

d. It is circular.

A definition should be neither too _____ nor too _____. a. broad; high b. low; narrow c. high; wide d. broad; narrow e. wide; low

d. broad; narrow

A vague definition is one that: a. everyone can understand easily b. contains too much information to be useful c. provides a precise criterion for membership in the concept d. doesn't give any precise criterion for membership in the concept e. only experts can understand easily

d. doesn't give any precise criterion for membership in the concept

If a definition begins with "when" or "where," this is often a sign that: a. it will be an excellent definition b. it will be too narrow c. it will be too broad d. it will not include a genus e. it will be circular

d. it will not include a genus

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? rectangle: a plane closed figure with four sides of equal length in which all angles are right angles a. it depends on the identity of the person who is defining the word. b. both too broad and too narrow c. neither too broad nor too narrow d. too narrow e. too broad

d. too narrow

What is the most obvious way that the following definition violates the rules? love: the music of life a. It has no genus. b. It is circular. c. It has no differentia. d. It uses obscure language. e. It uses metaphorical language.

e. It uses metaphorical language.

If we define humans as "religious animals," which of the following would be a counterexample? a. a Catholic b. a priest c. a squirrel d. a Muslim e. an atheist

e. an atheist

A definition is too broad when: a. it is dumbed down so that everyone can understand it b. it uses vague and obscure terms c. it is too wordy d. it fails to include things that are referents of the concept e. it includes things that are not referents of the concept

e. it includes things that are not referents of the concept

Is the following definition too broad or too narrow? spaghetti: a pasta that originated in Italy a. It depends on the identity of the person who is defining the word. b. both too broad and too narrow c. too narrow d. neither too broad nor too narrow e. too broad

e. too broad