Download Philosophy assignment answers “chapter four

NAME:OLAMIDE OLUSEGUN
DEPARTMENT:MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Philosophy assignment answers “chapter four essentials of logic ”
1.
Six types of definitions
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Stipulative Definition

Lexical Definition
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Precising definition
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Theoretical Definition
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Persuasive Definition

Ostensive Definition
2)i. Precising definition : this of definition serves to reduce vagueness in term.it helps to reduce
vagueness when we use terms like “adults”, “voting age”, “school age” and so on.
Ii. Ostensive definition: this is a type of definition that occur when we definition an object by
pointing to instance of such objects,such an effort is said to involve an Ostensive definition.
Iii.theoretical definition: this type of definition of term attempts to formulate an adequate
characterization of a scientifically useful description of the object to which the term is applied.
3)The stipulative definition is used to explain a brand new being introduced.
4)i.Definiendum:it means that which is to be defined or a symbol which is the subject of a definition
which is introduced into a logical system by being defined.
Ii.Definiens:A symbolic expression used to define something or introducing a word or symbol into
a logical system by providing a statement of its meaning.
5)theoretical definition is peculiar to the sciences and others empirical disciplines.
6)Vague term: it is uncertain ,indefinite or unclear character or meaning or is one for which borderline
cases may arise,it then should be applied or not.
7)The precising definition is used to reduce vagueness.
8)The ostensive definition is used to define an object you seek to describe.
9)The persuasive definition is done when the aim is to influence the attitude of a listener.
10)I. To influence attitude
Ii.to reduce vagueness
Iii.to increase vocabulary
Iv.to eliminate ambiguity
V.to explain theoretically
Vi.to resolve our differences
11) i. to influence attitude: we often define a term with the purpose in mind of influencing the
attitudes or stirring the emotions of one’s reader or heavens in certain definite ways.
Ii. To increase vocabulary :in reading ,we often come across unfamiliar words whose meaning
are not made clear by their context.to understand what is being said ,one has to find out what such
words means and afterwards add such to our “dictionary” of vocabularies.
Iii.to resolve our differences:sometimes we define words with the purpose of stating the sense in
which we use them in a conversation.
Rules of defining
Rule 1
A definition should state the essential attributes of the species. The essentials attributes of species are
those attributes,the posses ion or lack of which constitute the conventional criterion by which we
decide whether the specie has properly defined or not.
Rule 2
A definition must not be circular. If in a definition ,the Definiendum appears in the definens,such a
definition becomes circular and therefore fails in its purpose,which is to explain the meaning of its
Definiendum.
Rule 3
A definition must neither be broad nor too narrow. In a definition ,the definens should not denote
more or fewer things than is denoted by definendum.
Rule 4
A definition must not be expressed in ambiguous,obscure or figurative language.if the definens is
itself the definition obviously fails to preform its function of explaining the definiendum.
Rule 5
A definition should not be negative where it can be affirmative . The reason for this rule is that a
definition is supposed to explain what the term means and no what it does not.