Module 7 - On Definitions

Question 1

A (…) is a horse with a single tusk on its forehead

Answer 1

unicorn

Question 2

The word (…) means a horse with a single tusk on its forehead

Answer 2

‘unicorn’
*notice the ‘…’

Question 3

A (…) is a geometrical figure which is both a square and a circle

Answer 3

square-circle

Question 4

The word (…) means geometrical figure which is both a square and a circle

Answer 4

‘square-circle’
*notice the ‘…’

Question 5

In a (…) definition, it is so to say a thing which is defined

Answer 5

real

Question 6

In a (…) definition, it is a word or a linguistic expression which is defined; hence, such a definition is said to be (…)

Answer 6

nominal; nominal

Question 7

(…) and (…) are the two essential elements of a definition

Answer 7

Definiendum; definiens

Question 8

The linguistic expression ‘a horse with a single tusk on its forehead’ has (…) meaning but no (…) meaning

Answer 8

intentional; extensional

Question 9

Similarly, the linguistic expression ‘a geometrical figure which is both a square and a circle’ has (…) meaning but no (…) meaning

Answer 9

intensional; extensional

Question 10

For a realist, it is (…) meaning, not (…) meaning, which culminates meaningfulness

Answer 10

extensional; intensional

Question 11

Ordinary-language thinkers understand (…) meaning more easily than (…) meaning

Answer 11

intensional; extensional

Question 12

Logical (critical) thinkers distinguish sharply between (…) versus (…) meaning

Answer 12

extensional; intensional

Question 12

The word (…) is the supreme example of a word which lacks both (…) and (…) meanings but has a use as a term

Answer 12

‘nothing’; extensional; intensional

Question 13

The French philosopher Rene Descartes is famous for his method of (… …)

Answer 13

methodic doubt

Question 14

The philosophic problem of negative existensials must be deemed a stumbling block of both (…) and (…)

Answer 14

religion; science

Question 15

With the problem of negative existensials unsolved, the atheist thesis that God does not exist cannot be proven True; accordingly (… …) has no motivation to solve the problem

Answer 15

ordinary religious

Question 16

But the same problem unsolved makes it impossible from the great Saint (…) to deny the existence of Lucifer (the Devil) which is presumably part of what he wanted to deny in arguing the evil does not exist

Answer 16

Augustine

Question 17

Vulcan does not exist, but even as this believed in (…), it cannot be proven True dues to the philosophic problem of negative existentials

Answer 17

mythology

Question 18

In (…), the problem of negative existentials has to be solved independently of both science and religion

Answer 18

philosophy

Question 19

A decisive solution to the problem of negative existentials would constitute a tremendous advance in pure (…)

Answer 19

philosophical analysis

Question 20

In a definition, the definiens is the meaning of the definiendum

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

Any definition is specifically intended to be persuasive

Answer 21

FALSE

Question 22

You are the extensional meaning of your name

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

You are the intensional meaning of your name

Answer 23

TRUE

Question 24

The scientific emphasizes the distinction between reality and fiction; the religious de-emphasizes such distinction

Answer 24

TRUE

Question 25

The typical religious would agree with Meinong and Wittgenstein

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

Any (supposed) subject of any sentence exists

Answer 26

FALSE

Question 27

Religion believes that both God and the Devil exist

Answer 27

TRUE

Question 28

Science believes that neither God nor the Devil exists

Answer 28

TRUE

Question 29

Like a typical religious, the otherwise excellent doubter Descartes believed both God and the Devil

Answer 29

TRUE

Question 30

Saint Augustine was correct in arguing that evil does not exist

Answer 30

FALSE

Question 31

Saint Augustine successfully solved the problem of evil, the heaviest problem of philosophy of religion, by denying the existence of evil

Answer 31

FALSE

Question 32

For the religion, suffering purifies the soul

Answer 32

TRUE

Question 33

Hence, for the religious, any person must be willing to suffer

Answer 33

TRUE

Question 34

Some people believe they can be happy by being ignorant

Answer 34

TRUE

Question 35

Science addresses the problem of pain (as an evil) by denying a la Augustine the existence of evil (which of course includes pain)

Answer 35

TRUE

Question 36

The definition ‘A unicorn is a horse with a single tusk on its forehead’ is a real definition

Answer 36

TRUE

Question 37

In contrast, the definition “The word ‘unicorn’ means a horse with a single tusk on its forehead” is a nominal definition

Answer 37

TRUE

Question 38

Unicorns are not real, i.e. unicorns do not exist

Answer 38

TRUE

Question 39

It is clearly correct to say ‘A unicorn is really a horse with a single tusk on its forehead’ following the so-called real definition of the definiendum ‘unicorn’

Answer 39

TRUE

Question 40

The word ‘unicorn’ extensionally means a horse with a single tusk on its forehead

Answer 40

TRUE

Question 41

The word ‘unicorn’ intensionally means the same as ‘horse with a single tusk on its forehead’

Answer 41

FALSE

Question 42

The word ‘nothing’ which is undeniably both extensionally and intensionally meaningless must be deemed incapable of any real definition

Answer 42

TRUE

Question 43

You can do ostensive definition of the term ‘nothing’

Answer 43

FALSE

Question 44

The word ‘nothing’ can be provided only a nominal definition

Answer 44

TRUE

Question 45

The previous exercise item comprises the point of Ockham why he says that non-existents can be given only nominal definition

Answer 45

TRUE

Question 46

The word ‘nothing’ means an x which is not itself (i.e. x≠x) or an x which does not exist [i.e. ~(∃y)(x=y)]

Answer 46

TRUE

Question 47

In symbolic logic, the word ‘nothing’ is signified by the denied existential quantifier

Answer 47

TRUE

Question 48

In symbolic logic, the expression ‘s is nothing’ is equivalent to either the expression ‘x is not itself’ (i.e. x≠x) or the expression ‘x does not exist’ [i.e. ~(∃y)(x=y)]

Answer 48

TRUE

Question 49

So finally, a nothing is a non-existent and a non-existent is a nothing

Answer 49

TRUE