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Full Idea
Attempts to define a term frequently elicit necessary but not sufficient conditions for membership of its extension. This is called the 'X problem', as in 'kill' means 'cause to die' plus X.
Clarification
The 'extension' is the objects picked out by the concept
Gist of Idea
Definitions often give necessary but not sufficient conditions for an extension
Source
Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.2.1 n3)
Book Ref
Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.27
A Reaction
Fodor is one of the great sceptics about definition. I just don't see why we have to have totally successful definitions before we can accept the process as a worthwhile endeavour.
| 21675 | Some facts are indispensable for an effect, and others actually necessitate the effect [Stoic school, by Cicero] |
| 13309 | That something is a necessary condition of something else doesn't mean it caused it [Seneca] |
| 12633 | Definitions often give necessary but not sufficient conditions for an extension [Fodor] |
| 2963 | There may only be necessary and sufficient conditions (and counterfactuals) because we intervene in the world [Lockwood] |
| 3891 | If p entails q, then p is sufficient for q, and q is necessary for p [Scruton] |
| 4739 | In "if and only if" (iff), "if" expresses the sufficient condition, and "only if" the necessary condition [Engel] |
| 14600 | Analysis aims at secure necessary and sufficient conditions [Schaffer,J] |
| 20388 | 'Necessary' conditions are requirements, and 'sufficient' conditions are guarantees [Davies,S] |