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Single Idea 10528
[filed under theme 2. Reason / D. Definition / 2. Aims of Definition
]
Full Idea
Our concern in giving a definition is not to say how things are by to say how we wish to speak
Gist of Idea
Definitions concern how we should speak, not how things are
Source
Kit Fine (Precis of 'Limits of Abstraction' [2005], p.310)
Book Ref
-: 'Philosophical Studies' [-], p.310
A Reaction
This sounds like an acceptable piece of wisdom which arises out of analytical and linguistic philosophy. It puts a damper on the Socratic dream of using definition of reveal the nature of reality.
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[what a definition is trying to achieve]:
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16125
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To reveal a nature, divide down, and strip away what it has in common with other things
[Plato]
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16124
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No one wants to define 'weaving' just for the sake of weaving
[Plato]
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17237
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Definitions of things that are caused must express their manner of generation
[Hobbes]
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16541
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All the intrinsic properties of a thing should be deducible from its definition
[Spinoza]
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5618
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Definitions exhibit the exhaustive concept of a thing within its boundaries
[Kant]
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18261
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A simplification which is complete constitutes a definition
[Kant]
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13886
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Later Frege held that definitions must fix a function's value for every possible argument
[Frege, by Wright,C]
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9821
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A definition need not capture the sense of an expression - just get the reference right
[Frege, by Dummett]
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8368
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A correct definition is what can be substituted without loss of meaning
[Ducasse]
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4955
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Some definitions aim to fix a reference rather than give a meaning
[Kripke]
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15527
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Defining terms either enables elimination, or shows that they don't require elimination
[Lewis]
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11225
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A definition needs to apply to the same object across possible worlds
[Gupta]
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11227
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The 'revision theory' says that definitions are rules for improving output
[Gupta]
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17774
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Definitions make our intuitions mathematically useful
[Mayberry]
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20221
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Precision is only one of the virtues of a good definition
[Zagzebski]
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10528
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Definitions concern how we should speak, not how things are
[Fine,K]
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9641
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Definitions should be replaceable by primitives, and should not be creative
[Brown,JR]
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15352
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A definition should allow the defined term to be eliminated
[Horsten]
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16292
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An explicit definition enables the elimination of what is defined
[Halbach]
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