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critical thinking > Definitions > Flashcards

Flashcards in Definitions Deck (12)
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1
Q

Stimulative definition

A

-assigns meaning to a word for the first time
-coining a new word/giving meaning to an old word
-usually to replace a more complex expression with a simpler one
-e.g. ‘tigon” (lions crossbred with tigers)
-

2
Q

Lexical definitions

A
  • report meaning that a word already has in a language

- eliminates ambiguity

3
Q

Precising definition

A

-reduces vagueness of a word

4
Q

Theoretical definitions

A
  • suggesting a theory that gives a certain characterization to the entities that the term denotes
  • neither true/false because they function as proposal to see/interpret some phenomenon in a certain way
5
Q

Persuasive definitions

A
  • engender favorable/unfavorable attitude toward what is denoted by the definiendum
  • assigning emotionally charged meaning to a word while making it appear that the word really has that meaning in the language in which it is used
  • synthesis with stimulative, lexical, theoretical definitions is possible
  • e.g. ‘abortion‘ earns the ruthless murdering of innocent human beings
6
Q

Demonstrative (ostensive) definitions

A
  • gesture of pointing
  • most primitive and most limited
  • gesture must count as a word
7
Q

Enumeration definitions

A
  • naming the members of the class the term denotes

- relatively few classes can be completely enumerated

8
Q

Definition by subclass

A
  • naming subclasses
  • e.g. ‘tree means an oak, pine, elm, maple
  • complete definitions by subclass are often difficult/ impossible
9
Q

Synonymous definition

A
  • definiens is a shingle word that connotes the same attributes as the definiendum
  • e.g. ‘physician’ means doctor
  • only lexical definitions
10
Q

Etymological definition

A
  • assigns meaning to a word by disclosing the word’s ancestry in both its own language and other languages
  • conveys word’s root meaning/seminal meaning from which all other associated meanings are derived
  • one often has access to meaning of an entire constellation of related words
11
Q

Operational definition

A
  • assigns meaning to a word by specifying certain experimental procedures that determine whether or not the word applied to a certain thing
  • e.g. ‘brain activity’ means that an EEG shows oscillations when attached to a patients head

-problem: usually convey only part of intensional meaning of a term

12
Q

Definition by genus and difference

A
  • identifying genus term and one/more difference words, that convey meaning of the term being definiendum
  • genus: relatively larger class
  • species: relatively smaller subclass of genus
  • specific difference: attribute that distinguish the various species with a genus

-e.g. ice (species) means frozen (difference) water (genus)