more from Michael Dummett

Single Idea 9847

[catalogued under 2. Reason / D. Definition / 7. Contextual Definition]

Full Idea

The standard sense of a 'contextual definition' permits the eliminating of the defined expression, by transforming any sentence containing it into an equivalent one not containing it.

Gist of Idea

A contextual definition permits the elimination of the expression by a substitution

Source

Michael Dummett (Frege philosophy of mathematics [1991], Ch.11)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Frege: philosophy of mathematics' [Duckworth 1991], p.134


A Reaction

So the whole definition might be eliminated by a single word, which is not equivalent to the target word, which is embedded in the original expression. Clearly contextual definitions have some problems