philosophy with logic ( definition)

DEFINITIONSThe term definition is 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).

Definition has three (3) elements(definiendum, definiens, denotata)

• 1. 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)


• 2. 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 genusB. Specific differentia


• 2. Definiens: It has two (2) parts, namely:

A. 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)


•2. Definiens: It has two (2) parts, namely:

B. 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)


• 3. 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)

Kinds of Definitions(A thing may be defined on the basis of its

name or of its nature.)

• 1. Nominal Definition.– - In nominal definition (derived from the

Latin word nominalis, meaning “having reference to name”), a thing is defined or limited according to its term or name (Babor,2003).

– - A nominal definition may be:•-by etymology•-by synonym•-by description•-by example



• 1. Nominal Definition.

• a. An etymological definition•- states the origin or root word of a symbol. It may be said, for example:

•Philosophy comes from Greek word philo (love) and sophia (wisdom) so that philosophy is “love of wisdom.”


name or of its nature.)• 1. Nominal Definition.

• b. A synonym definition•- presents another word, more popular or easily recognizable, to clarify a given term (Agapay,1991).

Example:Synonyms for female, depending on the context, may include (“woman,” “lady,” “girl,” “babe,” “shiela,” etc..) Each of these words has roughly the same meaning as the word “female” or a high degree of similarity with it rather than identity. The more nearly equivalent the word is, the better the synonym definition will be (Porter,2002)



• 1. Nominal Definition.

• c. A description definition– - Talks of a thing in terms of its physical appearance (Porter,2002).

Example:A Tree (may be described as a

“living being having roots, a trunk, several branches, and leaves.”


name or of its nature.)• 1. Nominal Definition.

• d. An example definition– - Explains the meaning of a word by mentioning some instances of it (Porter,2002).

Example:Trusting- may be defined as “disclosing personal secrets or allowing oneself to be vulnerable”Wealth- as “having a number of bank accounts”Cheating?Illustrations, diagrams, and graphs- are also methods of definition by example.


name or of its nature.)• 2. Real Definition.

– - In real definition (Latin word realis, meaning “having reference to a thing or reality”), a thing is defined by considering the thing per se (Babor,2003).

– - It does not declare what the thing signifies but explains what its nature is.(Babor,2003)

– - A real definition explains what a thing is and how it is different from another. A real definition is a complex term, expressing the note/s that a thing has in common with similar types and also the note/s that differentiate/s it from another (Agapay,1991).



• 2. Real Definition.– -A real definition is also called an

essential definition since it explains the nature of a thing. Not everything, however, can be assigned a real definition.

– - Individuals such as: Pedro, Corazon, or Miguel, are identified rather than defined. Identified how? They may be identified, on the basis of a definition by description or by example, or through pictures (Agapay,1991).



• 2. Real Definition.– -An essential definition limits a thing or term according to its genus, e.g., “Man is an animal.” In the given, man is defined or limited in the context of his animality, i.e., man is not a plant but an animal.

– -Moreover, an essential definition can limit a thing in terms of its species, e.g., “Man is a rational animal.’

– Rationality or rational animal (prdicate idea of man), as presented in the example, is exclusive to man (Babor,2007).

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•- 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.”


• 2. 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.


• 3. 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


• 3. Definition by cause

a. 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.”



b. 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?..



c. 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.”



d. 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.”

(6) RULES FOR A GOOD DEFINITION(The following are rules identified by logicians for

constructing good definitions.)

• 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?...

RULES FOR A GOOD DEFINITION(The following are rules identified by logicians for


• 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)



• 2. Avoid too broad (inclusive) or 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..)



• 3. Avoid vague, obscure, or metaphorical language.- A definition should not use vague, obscure, or metaphorical language- the three (3) most common problems of definitions.

- The purpose of definition is to clarify the understanding of a concept. Clarity, therefore, is the rule.



• 3. Avoid vague, obscure, or metaphorical language.– 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.



• 3. 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.)



• 3. Avoid vague, obscure, or metaphorical language.– 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.)



• 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).



• 4. 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.”



• 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.



• 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, lub-lub.

– (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.

CONCLUSION• Providing a good definition may seem trivial, but it must be done conscientiously because it may be the basis of important decisions.

• For instance:– *It is crucial to determine the meaning of a person in the abortion controversy; If a fetus is not a person, then no one’s life is taken away in an abortion procedure.

– * In decisions on immigration, it must be clear who is an alien, and who is a resident and a citizen.

• * If someone is arrested for sale or possession of drugs, the definitions of narcotic and controlled substance are crucial.

• * When a person is dead is important in deciding whether a respirator is to be turned off.

• * Knowing which groups are minorities is significant in discrimination cases.

• * Temporary insanity must be carefully defined in a criminal trial.

• * Combat in assigning roles for women in military

• *Liquor ban before and after election…

(6) Rules of a good definition:

• 1. Avoid circular definitions• 2. Avoid too broad (inclusive) –Avoid too narrow (exclusive)3. Avoid vague, obscure, metaphorical4. Avoid loaded definitions5. Avoid negative terms6. State the essential attributes.

philosophy with logic ( definition)

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