PHI 1500 Lecture 8: Definitions of Abstraction
28 Sep 2016
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Why do we need abstractions: definitions: to make definitions of words that designate things and events when their descriptions become insufficient. Descriptions: observations based on the 5 senses. Perfect description: requires every little detail to be stated. Takes an infinite amount of time to convey infinitely many details. Includes the idea behind the object itself and some 5 senses. For definition, we need to include the essential, definite features. Need to distinguish between essential features and non-essential features that help describe this object. That line is made in our mind and we isolate those features. Cannot find out what essential and non-essential by looking at the object only. Abstract ideas are definitions that help us define essential and non-essential features: standards: to have standards for measurement and appraisal of different things and events. Standard of straightness: a straight line can"t be straight because it is a visual representation.
