TECHNIQUES OF DEFINITION
LESSON 3
A. The Extensional (Denotative) Definitional Techniques
1. Demonstrative (Ostensive) Definitions
2. Enumerative Definitions
3. Definition by Subclass
B. The Intensional (Connotative) Definitional Techniques.
1. Synonymous Definition
2. Etymological Definition
3. Operational Definition
4. Definition by Genus and Difference
A. THE EXTENSIONAL (DENOTATIVE) DEFINITIONAL TECHNIQUES
Assigns meaning to a term by
indicating the members of the class
that the definiendum denotes.
A.1. DEMONSTRATIVE (OSTENSIVE) DEFINITION
Done by POINTING
A.1. DEMONSTRATIVE (OSTENSIVE) DEFINITION
This is a syringe (pointing on the syringe).
Chair means this and this and this (as you
point to a number of chairs)
A.2. ENUMERATIVE DEFINITIONS
assign a meaning to a term by naming the
members of the class the term denotes
A.2. ENUMERATIVE DEFINITIONS
Example: Prescription medicines are
medicines such as Losartan, Metformin,
antibiotics or antihistamine.
A.2. ENUMERATIVE DEFINITIONS
Example: Actor means a person like Coco
Martin, Dingdong Dantes and L Delmas.
A.3. DEFINITION BY SUBCLASS
assigns a meaning to a term by naming
subclasses of the class denoted by the term
A.3. DEFINITION BY SUBCLASS
Example: Doctor means a cardiologist,
dermatologist, hematologist, internist or
neurologist.
A.3. DEFINITION BY SUBCLASS
Example: “Fictional work” means a poem, a
play, a novel, or a short story.
extensional definitions suffer serious deficiencies such
as:
When we define the word “chair” by demonstration, if
all the chairs pointed to are made of wood, observers
might get the idea that “chair” means “wood” instead of
something to sit on.
When we define the word “actor” by enumeration,
readers /listeners might think that “actor” means
“famous person”- which would include persons
who are not actors
When we define the word “tree” through a definition by
subclass, they might get the idea that “tree” means
“firmly planted in the ground,” which would also include
the pilings of a building.
B. THE INTENSIONAL (CONNOTATIVE) DEFINITIONAL TECHNIQUES
assigns a meaning to a word by
indicating the qualities or attributes
that the word connotes.
B.1. SYNONYMOUS DEFINITION
the definiens is a single word that connotes the
same attributes as the definiendum- that the
definiens is a synonym of the word being defined
B.1. SYNONYMOUS DEFINITION
Example:
“Physician” is a doctor.
“Observe” means see.
“Avian flu” means bird flu.
B.2. ETYMOLOGICAL DEFINITION
assigns a meaning to a word by
disclosing the word‘s ancestry in
both its own language and other
languages.
B.2. ETYMOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Example:
“License” came from the Latin word licere
which means to be permitted.
B.2. ETYMOLOGICAL DEFINITION
Example:
the word “principle” derives from the Latin word
principium, which means beginning or source.
Accordingly, the “principles of clinical ethics” are
those fundamental laws that provide the “source”
of clinical ethics.
B.3. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
assigns a meaning to a word by specifying certain
experimental procedures that determine whether
or not the word applies to a certain thing.
B.3. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Example:
One substance is “harder than” another if and
only if one scratches the other when the two
are rubbed together.
A solution is an “acid” if and only if litmus paper
turns red when dipped into it.
B.4. DEFINITION BY GENUS AND DIFFERENCE
assigns a meaning to a term by identifying a genus
term and one or more difference words that, when
combined, convey the meaning of the term being
defined.
B.4. DEFINITION BY GENUS AND DIFFERENCE
Genus vs species
In logic genus simply means a relatively larger class
and species means a relatively smaller class.
B.4. DEFINITION BY GENUS AND DIFFERENCE
Genus vs species
Example:
Genus – Animal, species – mammal.
Genus – mammal, species – Feline
Genus – Feline, Species – Tiger
Genus – Tiger, Species – Bengal Tiger
B.4. DEFINITION BY GENUS AND DIFFERENCE
“Specific Difference” or simply “Difference” is the
attribute or attributes that distinguish the various
species within a genus.
B.4. DEFINITION BY GENUS AND DIFFERENCE
Example
Species Difference Genus
“ice” means frozen water
“daughter” means female offspring
“husband” means married man
