MODR 1711 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Differentia, Vagueness, Clarity
24 Sep 2015
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What is and what is not included in a concept, by giving us a test or rule for membership. Provides a summary statement about the referents of our concepts, tells us the essential feature common to all elements. 2 rules of definition: a definition should include genus and differentia. Differentia is what distinguishes members of this class from other species of the same genus. A definition should be neither too broad nor too narrow, must give necessary and sufficient characteristics, i. e. , include all and only the members of the concept: a definition should state the essential/fundamental attributes of the concept"s referents. This will be the attribute that causes or explains the other characteristics of the objects: a definition should not be circular. For example, it should not define the concepts in terms of itself. Avoid using the same term as the concept or terms synonymous with it in your definition: avoid using negative terms in your definition.
