Download Definition - Industrial Engineering 2011

4th Meeting
Definition is the expression of the
essence or species of a thing, by means
of its proximate genus and specific
difference (Juan Jose Sanguineti, Logic,
1982:83)
Definition gives the precise answer to
the question “What is it?”
Kinds of definition
Essential definition: expression of the
essential of thing
Example: sport is activity of man
 Nominal definition: this expresses, not what
a thing is, but what the name means.
Example: Transatlantic is a ship that
crosses the Atlantic
 Descriptive definition: the definition that
gives more notable properties or
constitutive parts of something

Example: Water is colorless, ordorless
and tasteless substance

Genetic definition: the definition how
something has been produce
Example: Bronze is an alloy of copper,
zinc and tin

Causal definition: the definition that
describes a thing by its proper efficient
or final cause
Example: Man is a creature whose end
is the knowledge and love of God
Quality of definition
Precise
it is not vague and generic, or figurative
 Proper
it is not confused with one of its species. It
states the essential attributes of the
species
 Not circular
It would be incorrect to define: Peace is the
absence of war, or war is the absence of
peace
 Positive
It should not be negative
