IDEAS AND TERMSThe genesis of ideas and the meaning

of different terms

IDEA (…meaning)• a mental representation of a

reality• a word that has corresponding

existence in reality• primary focus of transmission

from one person to another• can be apprehended if one

uses his senses to perceive what Aristotle called phantasms, which are the individuating notes or the sensible traits in an object

Kinds of Ideas• 3.1.1. According to

Comprehension• 3.1.1.1. Simple -- expresses

only one conceptual note; refers only to one specific meaning

• 3.1.1.2. Compound -- applies to more than one conceptual note (ex. Human person as bodily rational being)

Cont’n…

• 3.1.1.3. Concrete -- anything whose attributes are capable of being perceived through one’s use of senses

• 3.1.1.4. Abstract -- something whose existence lies in the mind

Cont’n…• 3.1.2. According to Extension• 3.1.2.1. Universal -- can be predicated to

all the members of a certain class (person = all human beings regardless of races)

• 3.1.2.2. Particular -- can be predicated to some objects or members of a certain class (some, many, few… books)

• 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…)

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] -- refers to traits or attributes that characterize the term (e.g. sampaguita – round-shaped, white, fragrant…)

• 3.2.2. Denotation [a.k.a. extension of a term] -- refers to all the objects or members by which the term can be applied to (e.g. fruit – apple, banana, apricot, chico…)

Kinds of Term…• 3.2.3. Kinds of Term According to

Definiteness of Meaning• 3.2.3.1. Univocal term -- one which can be

predicated to only one meaning (e.g., electric fan, car, crucifix)

• 3.2.3.2. Equivocal -- has two or more different meanings (e.g., pen – writing material or cage for animals/ fish)

• 3.2.3.3. Analogous -- predicated to things whose meaning is partly the same and partly different (foot – bodily part or base/foundation)

Disputes• 3.3. Disputes – disagreements due to

differences in belief or perspective• 3.3.1. Merely verbal disputes -- arise

entirely from the use of equivocal or ambiguous terms (eg, chair – committee head or furniture? Look for its dictionary meaning to resolve it)

• 3.3.2. Genuine disputes -- involve disagreement between disputants caused by difference in beliefs or values affecting a certain term or idea at hand (eg, sex – for married only or for anyone in love or lust; respect each other’s belief)

Cont’n

• 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 such term

Definition

• 3.4. Definition• 3.4.1. Definiendum -- the word

or concept that is to be defined• 3.4.2. Definiens -- refers to the

meaning or the group of symbols or the description of the concept

• 3.4.3. Denotata – Samples of the concept

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

the way in which a term is already used within a language community

• 3.4.4.2. Stipulative -- freely assigns meaning to a completely new term, creating a usage that had never previously existed

• 3.4.4.3. Precising D -- requires clear and distinct meaning of a term without the use of any vague meaning

Cont’n

• 3.4.4.4. Theoretical -- special cases of stipulative or precising definition, distinguished by their attempt to establish the use of this term within the context of a broader intellectual framework

• 3.4.4.5. Persuasive -- attempt to attach emotive meaning to the use of a term

Cont’n

• 3.4.5. Definition by Genus and Differentia: genus ( broad category or kind to which everything our term signifies belongs and ; differentia -- the distinctive features that set the thing apart from all the other things of that particular kind

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

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 elements necessary to understand the term being defined should be contained. Ex.: Basketball – is a game played between two teams of five players each, the object being to throw a ball through an elevated basket on the opponent's side of a rectangular court

• 2. Definitions should avoid circularity. Do not use the term being defined as part of its definition otherwise the definition given does not at all clarify what term is all about.Ex.: Falsehood – is a state of being false.

Cont’n• 3. The definition must not be too wide or too

narrow. A definition fails to clarify the meaning of a term when the attributes provided do not exactly point to what the term means. Example: Too broad Priest – is a religious person; Too Narrow Priest – is someone who distributes Holy Communion

• 4. A definition must NOT be figurative, vague or obscure. The meaning of a term should be clear and distinct enough to understand. It goes straight to what the term really means.

• Example: God- is both the efficient and final causality of everything. Person – is a being with endless possibilities.

Cont’n

• 5. A definition should not be negative where it can be positive. A good definition should define the term of what it is and not of what it is not. Although there are instances when a term is defined in a negative way, the usual definition of term should be in the positive way.

• Example: Religious brother – is not a priest. END OF THE

TOPIC