DEFINITIONAL ARGUMENTS

Definitional Argument  What category does this thing belong in?  At what point does a fetus become a human being?  Is a lifelong commitment between two men or two women marriage?

Definitional Arguments  Category  Criteria  Match

Category  The division you want to stick your chosen object in  Is sleep deprivation a form of torture?  object – sleep deprivation  category – torture

Criteria  A list of characteristics of a category  Criteria of Torture  “...any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him, or a third person, information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in, or incidental to, lawful sanctions.” – UN Convention Against Torture

Match  Examples demonstrating that your chosen object meets the criteria of the category  How does sleep deprivation meet the criteria of torture?  causes mental suffering and hallucinations  wears down a prisoners resolve

This is Harley. What is she?

Criteria for “Cat”  feline skeletal structure  erect ears  cat eyes  whiskers and whisker flaps  paws and claws  mouse toy  small triangle nose  quadrapedal  furry

Harley is an American Shorthair.  Large head, slightly longer than it is wide.  Large wide eyes  Medium-sized ears set fairly well apart  Medium-length legs  Full, rounded paws with pad color in harmony with coat color  Short, dense fur  Working cat – very athletic, bred to be good mousers

“American Shorthair” or even “cat” is an Aristotelian definition.  a definition that distinguishes an item from other items in the next largest category.  “Cat” distinguishes Harley from “tiger” in the next largest category of “feline.”  “American Shorthair” distinguishes Harley from “Siamese” or “Russian Blue” in the next largest category of “cat.”

This is Datsyuk. Is she cute?

Criteria for “Cute”  innocent  tiny  big eyes  tongue  playing with a cell phone  color

“Cute” is an evaluative definition.  “Cute” is a word with positive cultural connotations; therefore, by defining something as “cute,” we are also defining it as “good.” (But not always; often people use “cute” to denote something diminutive or unserious.)  Other examples:  Is acupuncture quackery or real medicine?  Is taking Adderall to increase concentration a form of cheating?

Operational Definition  Operational definitions are common in the social and physical sciences. They are used when what is being studied needs particular limits or specific explanations.  A psychologist studying “aggression” in children may define aggression as the number of times a child hits an inflatable doll during a play session.  A zoologist studying alley cats may define an “alley cat” as any cat that spends less than 2 hours a day in a human residence.

So why do definitional arguments matter?  Definitional arguments have political consequences.  At what point does a fetus become a human being?  Is a lifelong commitment between two men or two women marriage?

The Rule of Justice  The Rule of Justice states that things in the same category must be treated the same.  All men are equal in the eyes of the law, innocent until proven guilty, entitled to legal representation.

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