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Single Idea 10960
[filed under theme 2. Reason / D. Definition / 1. Definitions
]
Full Idea
What makes it the case that, if we call the account of something a 'definition', that thing is a unity? If 'two-footed animal' is the account of man, and a definition, why, then, is 'man' a single thing and not a plurality (viz. animal and two-footed)?
Gist of Idea
If we define 'man' as 'two-footed animal', why does that make man a unity?
Source
Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1037b10)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.212
A Reaction
The obvious answer, I would have thought, is that we can think of man as a unity or as a plurality, depending on which aspect we are interested in. I see no problem with this. Nature offers us unities, but we ultimately select them.
The
19 ideas
with the same theme
[specifying one word by means of others]:
10953
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The parts of a definition are isomorphic to the parts of the entity
[Aristotle]
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10957
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The material element may be essential to a definition
[Aristotle]
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10960
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If we define 'man' as 'two-footed animal', why does that make man a unity?
[Aristotle]
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12291
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There can't be one definition of two things, or two definitions of the same thing
[Aristotle]
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12292
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Definitions are easily destroyed, since they can contain very many assertions
[Aristotle]
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19426
|
'Nominal' definitions just list distinguishing characteristics
[Leibniz]
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15927
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Definition just needs negation, known variables, conjunction, disjunction, substitution and quantification
[Weyl, by Lavine]
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19179
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For a definition we need the words or concepts used, the rules, and the structure of the language
[Tarski]
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1623
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Definition rests on synonymy, rather than explaining it
[Quine]
|
15227
|
Logically, definitions have a subject, and a set of necessary predicates
[Harré/Madden]
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5831
|
The new view is that "water" is a name, and has no definition
[Schwartz,SP]
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15457
|
Interdefinition is useless by itself, but if we grasp one separately, we have them both
[Lewis]
|
6052
|
Definitions identify two concepts, so they presuppose identity
[McGinn]
|
11215
|
Notable definitions have been of piety (Plato), God (Anselm), number (Frege), and truth (Tarski)
[Gupta]
|
11223
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Definitions usually have a term, a 'definiendum' containing the term, and a defining 'definiens'
[Gupta]
|
23744
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Defining a set of things by paradigms doesn't pin them down enough
[Smith,M]
|
14100
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Figuring in the definition of a thing doesn't make it a part of that thing
[Rosen]
|
11257
|
The Pythagoreans were the first to offer definitions
[Politis, by Politis]
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20389
|
A definition of a thing gives all the requirements which add up to a guarantee of it
[Davies,S]
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