Ideas and Terms

8/13/2019 Ideas and Terms

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IDEAS AND TERMSThe genesis of ideas and the meaning

of different terms


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IDEA (meaning)

a mental representation of areality

a word that hascorresponding existence inreality

primary focus of transmissionfrom one person to another

can be apprehended if oneuses his senses to perceive

what Aristotle calledphantasms, which are theindividuating notes or thesensible traits in an object


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Kinds of Ideas 3.1.1. According to

Comprehension

3.1.1.1. Simple-- expressesonly one conceptual note;

refers only to one specificmeaning

3.1.1.2. Compound-- applies

to more than one conceptualnote (ex. Human person asbodily rational being)


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Contn

3.1.1.3. Concrete--anything whoseattributes are

capable of beingperceived throughones use of senses

3.1.1.4. Abstract--

something whoseexistence lies in themind


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Contn

3.1.2. According to Extension

3.1.2.1. Universal -- can be predicatedto all the members of a certain class(person = all human beings regardlessof races)

3.1.2.2. Particular -- can be predicatedto some objects or members of acertain class (some, many, fewbooks)

3.1.2.3. Singular Idea -- a single

member of a class 3.1.2.4. Collective-- a number of

things belonging to a certain group(team, society, class)


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Term

3.2. Term-- refers to the verbal or

written expression of a certain idea

3.2.1. Connotation (of a term) [a.k.a.intension or comprehension] -- refersto traits or attributes that characterize

the term (e.g. sampaguitaround-shaped, white, fragrant)

3.2.2. Denotation[a.k.a. extension of aterm] -- refers to all the objects or

members by which the term can beapplied to (e.g. fruitapple, banana,apricot, chico)


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Kinds of Term 3.2.3. Kinds of Term According to

Definiteness of Meaning

3.2.3.1. Univocal term -- one which canbe predicated to only one meaning (e.g.,electric fan, car, crucifix)

3.2.3.2. Equivocal -- has two or moredifferent meanings (e.g., penwritingmaterial or cage for animals/ fish)

3.2.3.3. Analogous -- predicated to

things whose meaning is partly thesame and partly different (footbodilypart or base/foundation)


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Disputes

3.3. Disputesdisagreements due todifferences in belief or perspective

3.3.1. Merely verbal disputes -- ariseentirely from the use of equivocal orambiguous terms (eg, chair

committee head or furniture? Look forits dictionary meaning to resolve it)

3.3.2. Genuine disputes -- involvedisagreement between disputantscaused by difference in beliefs or

values affecting a certain term or ideaat hand (eg, sexfor married only orfor anyone in love or lust; respect eachothers belief)


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Contn

3.3.3. Apparently verbal but

really genuine disputes--

occur between disputants who

do not agree on the different

meaning of a term being used

as well differ in beliefs or

perspective regarding suchterm


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Definition

3.4. Definition

3.4.1. Definiendum-- the wordor concept that is to be defined

3.4.2. Definiens-- refers to themeaning or the group ofsymbols or the description of

the concept 3.4.3. DenotataSamples of

the concept


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Kinds of Definition

3.4.4. Kinds of Definition 3.4.4.1. Lexical definition -- simply

reports the way in which a term isalready used within a languagecommunity

3.4.4.2. Stipulative-- freely assignsmeaning to a completely new term,creating a usage that had neverpreviously existed

3.4.4.3. Precising D-- requires clear anddistinct meaning of a term without theuse of any vague meaning


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Contn

3.4.4.4. Theoretical-- specialcases of stipulative or precisingdefinition, distinguished by their

attempt to establish the use ofthis term within the context of abroader intellectual framework

3.4.4.5. Persuasive-- attempt toattach emotive meaningto theuse of a term


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Contn

3.4.5. Definition by GenusandDifferentia: genus(broadcategory or kind to whicheverything our term signifies

belongs and ; differentia-- thedistinctive features that set thething apart from all the otherthings of that particular kind

Ex.: A chair is a kind offurniture(genus) that is used for sitting(specific difference).


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Rules of Definition

3.4.6. Rules of Definition by Genus and

Differentia 1. A definition must set out the essential

attributes of the thing defined. All elementsnecessary to understand the term being definedshould be contained. Ex.: Basketballis a game

played between two teams offive players each,the object being to throw a ball through anelevated basket on the opponent's side ofarectangular court

2. Definitions should avoid circularity. Do not use

the term being defined as part of its definitionotherwise the definition given does not at allclarify what term is all about.Ex.: Falsehoodis astate of being false.


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Contn

3. The definition must not be too wide or too

narrow. A definition fails to clarify themeaning of a term when the attributesprovided do not exactly point to what theterm means. Example: Too broad Priestisa religious person; Too Narrow Priestis

someone who distributes Holy Communion 4. A definition must NOT be figurative, vague

or obscure. The meaning of a term should beclear and distinct enough to understand. Itgoes straight to what the term really means.

Example: God- is both the efficient and finalcausality of everything. Personis a beingwith endless possibilities.


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Contn

5. A definition should not benegative where it can bepositive. A good definitionshould define the term of what itis and not of what it is not.Although there are instanceswhen a term is defined in anegative way, the usualdefinition of term should be in

the positive way. Example: Religious brotheris

not a priest.END OF THE

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Ideas and Terms

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