Definitions February 8th, 2016

administrative stuff The extension of a term consists of the entities to which it applies Fictional terms have an empty extension Some non-fictional terms also have an empty extension (‘living velociraptors’)

2.3 Definitions DEFINITION - a group of words that assigns a meaning to some other word or group of words.

2.3 Definitions The definiendum is the word or group of words that is supposed to be defined.

2.3 Definitions The definiendum is the word or group of words that is supposed to be defined. The definiens is the word or group of words that does the defining.

2.3 Definitions The definiendum is the word or group of words that is supposed to be defined. The definiens is the word or group of words that does the defining. Example Cat: A small, domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws

2.3 Continued Stipulative definitions assign a new meaning to a word

2.3 Continued Stipulative definitions assign a new meaning to a word Stipulative definitions are often created in response to some new phenomenon or development.

2.3 Continued Stipulative definitions assign a new meaning to a word Stipulative definitions are often created in response to some new phenomenon or development. Examples are “tigon” for the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion, and “liger” for the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger.

2.3 Continued Stipulative definitions assign a new meaning to a word Stipulative definitions are often created in response to some new phenomenon or development. Examples are “tigon” for the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion, and “liger” for the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. Stipulative definitions are also used to assign meaning to codewords

2.3 Continued Lexical definitions report a meaning that a term already has in a language

2.3 Continued Lexical definitions report a meaning that a term already has in a language Dictionary definitions are all lexical definitions; terms often have multiple definitions.

2.3 Continued Lexical definitions report a meaning that a term already has in a language Dictionary definitions are all lexical definitions; terms often have multiple definitions. As a consequence, lexical definitions can be right or wrong, relative to the community of discourse they are supposed to apply to.

2.3 Continued Lexical definitions report a meaning that a term already has in a language Dictionary definitions are all lexical definitions; terms often have multiple definitions. As a consequence, lexical definitions can be right or wrong, relative to the community of discourse they are supposed to apply to. If I define ‘professor’ as ‘a five-headed dragon’, I will be incorrect.

2.3 Lexical Definitions Lexical definitions also serve to distinguish among multiple meanings of words that can be used in different ways.

2.3 Lexical Definitions Lexical definitions also serve to distinguish among multiple meanings of words that can be used in different ways. (e.g., light = not heavy, pale-colored, a form of radiation)

2.3 Continued Precising definitions reduce vagueness

2.3 Continued Precising definitions reduce vagueness Defining “poor” as “having an annual income of less than $10,000 and a net worth of less than $20,000” is a precising definition.

2.3 Continued Precising definitions reduce vagueness Defining “poor” as “having an annual income of less than $10,000 and a net worth of less than $20,000” is a precising definition. Precising definitions reduce vagueness for a specific context.

2.3 Continued Theoretical definitions assign meaning to terms according to a theoretical framework. They offer a way to understand a phenomenon via that framework.

2.3 Continued Theoretical definitions assign meaning to terms according to a theoretical framework. They offer a way to understand a phenomenon via that framework. You often run into theoretical definitions in the context of scientific or philosophical discussion

2.3 Continued Theoretical definitions assign meaning to terms according to a theoretical framework. They offer a way to understand a phenomenon via that framework. You often run into theoretical definitions in the context of scientific or philosophical discussion “Heat” means the energy associated with the random motion of the molecules of a substance.

2.3 Continued Theoretical definitions assign meaning to terms according to a theoretical framework. They offer a way to understand a phenomenon via that framework. You often run into theoretical definitions in the context of scientific or philosophical discussion “Heat” means the energy associated with the random motion of the molecules of a substance. “God” means whatever uncaused cause put the universe into motion.

2.3 Continued Persuasive definitions engender a particular attitude

2.3 Continued Persuasive definitions engender a particular attitude This is done by assigning an emotional or value-laden meaning to a word while making it appear that the word really has (or ought to have) that meaning in the language in which it is used.

2.3 Continued Persuasive definitions engender a particular attitude This is done by assigning an emotional or value-laden meaning to a word while making it appear that the word really has (or ought to have) that meaning in the language in which it is used. E.g., “Capitalism is the economic system in which humanity is sacrificed to the wanton quest for money, and mutual respect is replaced with greed and alienation.”

2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions

2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions Conform to proper grammatical standards Grammar is the bones of language, a structure that greatly contributes to the whole.

2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions Conform to proper grammatical standards Grammar is the bones of language, a structure that greatly contributes to the whole. Convey essential meaning If you define “human” as a featherless biped, then plenty of non-cases will count as human, and plenty of real humans will be excluded

2.5 Criteria for Lexical Definitions Conform to proper grammatical standards Grammar is the bones of language, a structure that greatly contributes to the whole. Convey essential meaning If you define “human” as a featherless biped, then plenty of non-cases will count as human, and plenty of real humans will be excluded Be neither too broad nor too narrow Your definition of “bird” should exclude bats, which are mammals, and include ostriches, which cannot fly.

2.5 Continued Avoid circularity Makeup is a product used by people to make themselves up.

2.5 Continued Avoid circularity Be affirmative (where possible) Makeup is a product used by people to make themselves up. Be affirmative (where possible) Normally you would say that “‘Concord’ means harmony,” but you can use conventional usage for such definitions: “ ‘Dark’ is the absence of light.”

2.5 Continued Avoid circularity Be affirmative (where possible) Makeup is a product used by people to make themselves up. Be affirmative (where possible) Normally you would say that “‘Concord’ means harmony,” but you can use conventional usage for such definitions: “ ‘Dark’ is the absence of light.” Avoid figurative, obscure, vague or ambiguous language Camels are a species of mammal, not “ships of the desert.”

2.5 Continued Avoid affective terminology, such as sarcasm and facetiousness “Theism” means belief in that great Santa Claus in the sky.

2.5 Continued Avoid affective terminology, such as sarcasm and facetiousness “Theism” means belief in that great Santa Claus in the sky. Indicate proper context “Strike” means different things in the contexts of baseball, bowling, fishing, and war.

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive What kind is the following definition?

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive What kind is the following definition? “Nausea is a sensation that is associated with illness and that often leads to vomiting.”

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive What kind is the following definition? Let’s use “bimboy” to describe a boy who’s a total airhead.

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive What kind is the following definition? “Politician” means a person of unquestioned honesty and integrity whom the people, in their collective wisdom, have duly elected to guide the ship of state and protect it from the reefs and shoals that threaten it on every side.”

To Review 5 kinds of definitions: Stipulative Lexical Precising Theoretical Persuasive What kind is the following definition? “Blind means, for federal income-tax purposes, either the inability to see better than 20/200 in the better eye with glasses or having a field of vision of 20 degrees or less.”

Practice With a partner, come up with lexical definitions for: Restaurant Zebra Grief You have five minutes!