Elijah Miguel S.

Punzalan

13September2015

1BIO5

MEANING AND NATURE OF DEFINITION

The word definition is came from the Latin word definire, meaning to
enclose without limits. Definition is defined as a statement that gives the
meaning of a term. The word that is being defined in a definition is called the
definiendum, while the word or phrase that defines is called the definiens. It
is generally expressed by the predicate of a proposition (definiens) whose
subject (definiendum) is the term being defined.

REASONS WHY WE DEFINE CONCEPTS

There are a lot of different point of views regarding defining concepts. Thus,
there are a couple of reasons on why do we really need or why do we really
define concepts. One, so that everyone may be able to understand what the
content of the concept is all about. Of course, if you will be able to define a
concept then tendencies are the audience or readers will have an easy time to
go on with your concepts.

STRUCTURE OF A DEFINITION

Regarding the structures of definition, we have 2 types which are denotative

and connotative. But first, let us define what denotative is as a structure of a
definition. Denotative is a type that identifies the extension of the term in
question. Hence, a complete enumeration of the things to which a general term
applies would be inconvenient in many cases. While a connotative is a type that

identifies the intension of a term by providing a synonymous linguistic

expression for determining the applicability of a term.

MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF DEFINITION

Since theses explicit accounts of the meaning of a word or phrase can be

offered in distinct contexts, it is useful to distinguish definitions of several
kinds.

1. Nominal Definition (comes from the Latin word Definitio nominis,

meaning definition of a name.)
This kind of definition simply says what a thing is signified by a term,
without declaring the nature of that thing. The main purpose is to
just give the meaning of a term, either its current meaning or
special meaning within some context. So that listeners or readers will
know the sense in which the term is used.
Nominal definitions may be classified into the following:

a. Definition by Etymology. This type defines a word by giving the

meaning of the word from which it is derived.
b. Definition by Synonym. This type gives the synonym that is
better known than the word to be defined.
c. Definition by Description. This type describes the thing signified
by the term, by indicating what is being spoken of.
d. Definition by Example. This type indicates an example of the
thing signified by the term to be defined.

2. Real Definition (Definitio rei meaning definition of a thing.)

This is a kind of definition which does not only indicate what a thing is
signified by a term but also declares the nature of that thing. It is always
a complex term that consists of atleast two parts, one part is by giving
the element/s that the thing has in common with similar kind of things
and the other is by differentiating the element/s from them.

a. Essential Definition (means Genus and Specific Difference.) The

notion of real definition is verified most perfectly in a definition by
stating a things genus and specific difference.
b. Non-Essential Definition. This is a definition that states the
genus of a thing defined and uses a description in place of the
specific difference. These are the following classifications that are
based on the various relationships that non-essential attributes
have towards the subjects of which they are predicted:
I. Properties. This type gives one or more logical properties in
II.

place of specific difference.

Logical Accident. This type states one or more logical

III.

accidents in place of the specific difference.

As a Substitute for Specific Difference. This type states a
combination of non-essential characteristic properties that
are found only in the thing defined.

3. Casual Definition. These are definitions that give the genus of the thing
defined and state a cause in place of the specific difference. The following
are the types:

a. Final Cause. It substitutes the purpose of a thing for its specific

difference.
b. Efficient Cause. It substitutes the efficient cause of a thing for its
specific difference. It produces its effect by its activity.
c. Material and Formal Cause. A material cause is a material out of
which a thing is made, and a formal cause is that in a thing that
makes it the kind of thing it is.
d. Genetic Definition. This type states the process by which it is
produced and the elements that concur in its production.

OTHER KINDS OF DEFINITION

1. Lexical. This type simply reports the way in which a term is already used
within a language community. Its goal here is to inform someone else of
the accepted meaning of the term.
2. Stipulative. This type freely assigns meaning to a completely new term
that had never previously existed. Its goal is to propose the adoption of
shared use of a novel term.

3. Precising. This type combines the first two techniques in order to reduce
the vagueness of a word or phrases. This usually begins with the lexical
definition of a term, then propose to sharpen it by stipulating more
narrow limits on its use.

4. Theoretical. This type attempts to establish the use of a term within the
context of a broader intellectual framework.

5. Persuasive. This type attempts to attach emotive meaning in the use of

term. Since this definition only serves to confuse the literal meaning of
therterm, persuasive definition has no legitimate use.

RULES REGARDING DEFINITION

The following rules will set forth the conditions that a good definition should
fulfill. These will help us distinguish good definitions from defective ones.

Rule 1. It should not be expressed in metaphorical or figurative language.

The goal of a definition is to explain the meaning of a term to someone
who is unfamiliar with its proper application.

Rule 2. It should be co-extensive with the term being defined.

The things that is defined and the definition should have identical
extension and should be convertible.

Rule 3. It should be positive as much as possible.

A definition should state what a thing is rather than what it is not.
Although negative terms can be defined due to the limitation of a human
knowledge.

Rule 4. It should be brief.

A definition should contain no superfluous words.

Note: Violating one of these rules would defeat the purpose of definition
such as to enhance vocabulary, get rid of ambiguity, clarify and explain
ideas or terms.

MEANING AND DEFINITION OF JUDGEMENT

A judgment is defined as the second act of the intellect by which it
pronounces the agreement or disagreement between terms or ideas. It is
also an act by which the intellect compares and expresses the objective
identity or non-identity between ideas. Hence, when the mind judges, it
either affirms or denies.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUDGEMENT AND TRUTH

The following are steps that the mind takes before it affirms or denies the
objective identity of two formal concepts.
Step 1. Apprehension of two concepts. One of them must expressly,
bear out a conceptual feature that the other does not.
Step 2. Mental comparison of the two concepts.
Step 3. Perception of the objective identity or non-identity of the two
concepts.
Step 4. Pronouncements of the identity or non-identity of one concept
with another.
When the pronouncement is in agreement with reality then, it is called
formal truth. When the pronouncement disagrees with reality then, it is
called formal falsehood. The end product of judgement is called
enunciation.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUDGEMENT AND PROPOSITION

A proposition may be defined as a judgment expressed in a sentence. It is
a sign or external manifestation of a mental pronouncement. It is also
defined as a verbal expression of truth or falsity. It is the characteristic of
every proposition that it must be either true or false. A proposition is
called categorical because it directly declares a fact unconditionally.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROPOSTION
The main characteristics of a proposition are the following:
1. Propositions should always be in the indicative mood. In the
indicative alone we affirm or deny the attribute of the subject.
2. Propositions should always be stated in the present tense. Our
purpose is to study the mode in which the mind represents the
real and present order. In the language of common life, we
frequently express propositions in one word.

3. The predicate of a logical proposition should be separately

expressed by the linking verbs is or is not. These verbs serve to
properly express the identity or non-identity between the subject
and the predicate. Therefore, for a proposition to be called logical,
it must be expressed in this pattern:
Subject Copula (linking verb is or is not) predicate.

STRUCTURES OF PROPOSTION
To distinguish a proposition from an ordinary sentence, let us briefly
discuss its structures namely: subject term, predicate term and copula.

1. The Subject Term. This is a term that designates the idea about
which the pronouncement is made. It is that about which something
is affirmed or denied. It is the term upon which the assertion or
denial falls. It can be determined by asking who or what is spoken of
in a statement or a claim.
2. The Predicate Term. This is the term that designated the ideas
which is affirmed or denied of the subject. It frequently happens that
the grammatical predicate conceals both the logical predicate and the
copula.

3. The Copula. This is the term that expresses the mental act which
pronounces the agreement or disagreement between the subject and
predicate. The copula is usually expressed in linking verbs such as is,
is not, am, am not, are and are not.

MAIN PROPERTIES OF PROPOSITION

The main properties of proposition are:

1. Universal Propostion if the subject is a universal term applied
distirbutively, to each, and all of the calss.
2. Particular Propostion when the subject is a universal term used
partly and indeterminately. It is indicated by the term some or
not all.

3. Singular Proposition it is singular when the subject applies to a

single individual only. Singular propositions are often articles or
demonstrative pronouns.

4. Collective Proposition it is collective when the subject is a

collective term applying to all taken together as a class, but not to
the individuals composing the class.
5. Indefinite Proposition has no definite sign of quantity attached
to the subject.