Definition

OTHER TYPES OF DEFINITIONS

(When real definition is difficult or impossible to formulate, there are other types that may be used.) 1. Definition by property 2. Definition by logical accident 3. Definition by cause a.Definition by final cause b. Definition by efficient cause c. Definition by material cause d. Definition by formal cause

Definition by cause

- Gives the factors that contribute to the constitution of a thing as such. • Four (4) causes that may be cited: • Final • Efficient • Material • Formal

Definition by formal cause

- states the form or constitutive element that makes a thing what it is. Examples: A man- may be defined as "an animal with a rational soul," a car- "a motorized vehicle for transport."

Definition by efficient cause

- states the origin of or factor that produced the thing defined. Examples: Man- may be said to be "a creature made by God." Chair- "an artifact made by a carpenter." watch?.. shoe?..

Definition by final cause

- states the purpose of a thing. Examples: Thermometer- may be defined as "an instrument for measuring body temperature" Watch- "a mechanical device for telling time."

Definition by material cause

- states the stuff or material from which the thing is made. Examples: Nipa hut- is "a structure made of nipa and bamboo," Pencil- is "a writing instrument made of lead or charcoal enclosed in a slender piece of wood."

Nominal Definition

-A definition which speaks about a term but not declaring anything about it. This is done by considering the origin of the term, by describing the term, by giving the synonym of the term or by citing an example that will represent the term

Real Definition

-A definition, which declares something about the term. This kind of definition serves to explain about the nature and to distinguish it from other terms.

Elements of a Definition

1. Definiendum 2. Definiens a. Proximate genus b. Specific differentia 3. Denotata

KINDS OF DEFINITION

1. Nominal Definition Classification of Nominal Definition a. Nominal Definition by Etymology b. Nominal Definition by Description c. Nominal Definition by Synonym d. Nominal Definition by Example 2. Real Definition Classification of Real Definition a. Real Definition by Genus and Specific Difference b. Real Definition by Description c. Real Definition by Cause

Real Definition by Cause

It is attained by stating the genus of the term but altering the specific difference by tracing its cause. A cause could be its purpose, function, reason for existence, make-up or origin. Ex.: A book is a written material made-up of several pages and is a source of information. "written material" - genus "a source of information" - cause or reason for existence

Real Definition by Description

It is done by stating the genus of the term but altering the specific difference by giving the logical property, which belongs to the term to be defined. Ex.: A Police Officer is a man bestowed with authority to enforce a law. "man" - genus "bestowed with authority to enforce a law" - logical property

RULES FOR A GOOD DEFINITION

Rule No. 1 . Avoid circular definitions. -A circular definition usually repeats the defined word in the definition (porter, 2002). Examples: A cook book- as "a book used to cook" (is not very informative) High unemployment- as "a great many people out of work." Correct thinking?... Rule No. 2 Avoid too broad (inclusive) or Avoid too narrow (exclusive) definitions. - If the definition is unduly broad, it will cover too much, failing to rule out things that are extraneous. Examples: Book?- as "rectangular object" is too broad, since there are many rectangular objects beside books. Filipino?... (too general) Avoid too narrow (exclusive) definitions. - If the definition is too narrow, it will cover too little, excluding things that should be included in the term. Examples: Human being- as an "intelligent, self-aware, tool-making, language-using animal w/ emotions, five sense, movement, and moral and religious sensibilities." (by being too detailed, such a definition would exclude the blind, deaf, and retarded; paralyzed or in coma; fetuses and babies.etc..) Rule No. 3 Avoid vague, obscure, or metaphorical language. -A definition should not use vague, obscure, or metaphorical languagethe three (3) most common problems of definitions. - The purpose of definition is to clarify the understanding of a concept. Clarity, therefore, is the rule. A Vague definition is unclear because it does not give any precise criterion for membership of the concept (Kelly,1988). Example: Maturity- defined as "the stage of psychological development in which a person becomes well-adjusted." ("well-adjusted?" is vague. It is not clear who belongs in the class of well-adjusted people, and who does not. Avoid vague, obscure, or metaphorical language. An Obscure definition is unclear because it uses abstract or technical language that is more difficult to understand than the concept itself (Kelly,1988). Example: Death- defined as "the cessation of one's participation in finitude." (The problem is that, it has a clear meaning only in a specialized context. Philosophical theory about human life and after death. A Metaphorical definition is unclear because it does not give the literal meaning of the concept, but only an analogy that requires interpretation; It generally uses figurative or emotive language that odds to the ambiguity (Porter,2002). Example: Knowledge- as 'antidote to fear" Friendship- as "a sheltering tree," Holy Spirit?.. Sexy?.. (These fanciful meanings are not instructive.) Rule No. 4 Avoid loaded definitions Sometimes, definitions are used for persuasive purposes and are charged with positive or negative emotions; in such cases, they are considered loaded. A loaded definition has an "attitude"; it expresses a value judgment and is not just a neutral description of conventional meaning. It always presents a point of view and displays feelings about the subject of the definition- favorable or unfavorable, laudatory, caustic, amused, or cynical (porter,2002). Avoid loaded definitions Examples: "an intellectual is someone who knows everything except how to make money"; "a professor is someone who professes that someone else suffer" "an atheist is someone who thinks that God is dead." Rule No. 5 Avoid negative terms. - A definition should not use negative terms unnecessarily. Example: Good is "not bad" (would not give a satisfactory definition since it does not provide much about what good actually is.) In general, negative definition should be avoided because a definition should state what a thing is and not what is not. Rule No. 6 State the essential attributes - A definition should present the essential attributes of the concept being defined (Kelly,1998). - Concepts often have many attributes in common; some are relatively superficial, while some are essential. Example: A beating heart- defined as "the organ that goes lub-lub, lublub. (Lub-lub sound is a superficial trait. It is merely a byproduct of the heart's essential function, which is to circulate blood.) This essential function explains many of the other properties of the heart: the way it beats, the way it is hooked up to the veins and arteries, and sound it makes.

Real Definition by Genus and Specific Difference

a definition that explains the essence of a term by considering the intelligible elements that make up the term Ex.: A triangle is a figure with three sides. "figure" - genus "three sides" - specific difference

Nominal Definition by Description

attained by describing the term. Ex.: A rose is a flower

Nominal Definition by Etymology

attained by tracing the origin of the term. Ex.: Fraternity came from "frater", which means "brother".

definition

derived from the Latin word defenire, meaning "to state the limits of" or "to enclose within limits." Thus to define a thing is to limit it. A thing can be limited by unfolding its nature, by getting its meaning, or by laying hold of what it includes. Definitions marks off the thing defined and differentiates it from other things. Through definition, a term is made definite as to its precise meaning (Bapor,2007)

Definiendum

is a term to be defined (Joven,2006) Example: "A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich," ( bird is the definiendum)

Definiens

is a word or phrase that explains or describes the defining property of the definiendum (Joven,2006). It has two (2) parts, namely: A. Proximate genus B. Specific differentia

Proximate genus

is the nearest general class to which a thing belongs (Montemayor,1993). Example: "A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich," (animal is the proximate genus)

Nominal Definition by Synonym

it is done by giving a word equivalent to the term. Ex.: Being kind is being benevolent

Nominal Definition by Example

it is done by citing anything that will represent the term. Ex.: Our Chief Executive is Benigno Simeon Aquino III

Denotata

provides a concrete examples of the extension of the definiendum (Acuna,1998). (same ex..) Example: "A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich," ( chicken, owl, and ostrich are the denotata)

Specific differentia

refers to the essential characteristics that differentiates a thing from the rest of the group. (same example) Example: "A bird is an animal with feathers, such as chicken, owl, and ostrich," (feathers is the specific differentia)

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. • Saying that man is "capable of education" or "capable of a wise decision" is defining him by logical property.

Definition by property

• Gives the attributes of a thing instead of its true specific difference. • A property is a quality which is *rooted on the nature of a thing.* Thus, if something has this definite nature, it also has this definite property or attribute. • Man may be defined on the basis of property or attributes as "an animal capable of speech" or "an animal with religious sentiments."