definition
Let an agent explain definitions and their kinds, relay rules for good definitions from logic and lexicography, describe formal definitions in ontologies and science, and distinguish definitions from descriptions and explanations.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What a definition is.
Definition
Definition of definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a definition, and how does it differ from a description, an explanation or an axiom? definition
- Is the question about definitions in general, a kind of definition or a specific term? boundary
Kinds
Kinds.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What are intensional, extensional, ostensive, stipulative, lexical and operational definitions? definition
- Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Craft Writing definitions.
Rules
Rules.
Rules
Rules.
- What rules make a good definition, and what faults such as circularity should be avoided? action
- Which references are standard? provenance
Formal
Formal definitions.
Formal
Formal.
- How are definitions written in ontologies, terminology standards and science, such as cell type definitions? provenance
- Which entry fits ontology? action
Domains Domains.
Law
Law and lexicography.
Law
Law.
- How do statutes and dictionaries define terms? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Mathematics
Mathematics.
Mathematics
Mathematics.
- How do mathematical and recursive definitions work? provenance
- Which entry fits mathematical definition? action
Context Philosophy and history.
Philosophy
Philosophy.
Philosophy
Philosophy.
- What do philosophers from Socrates and Aristotle to Wittgenstein say about definition, and why is philosophy itself defined in rival ways, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
History
History.
History
History.
- How did the theory of definition develop in logic and lexicography? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of logic? action
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Information and virtual systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- INF
- Domain
- INF.MED
- Other names and narrower kinds
- circular definition, previously published description or definition, intensional definition, molecular cell type definition, ontology concept definition, Definitions of philosophy, nature of education, legal definition, definition of indigenous people, mathematical definition, Real meaning, synthetic definition
What it is Filled
A statement of the meaning of a term, concept or object, whether intensional by stating necessary and sufficient conditions, extensional by listing members, ostensive by pointing, stipulative, lexical or operational, used in dictionaries, law, mathematics, science and ontologies where concept definitions such as cell type definitions follow formal patterns; definitions can be circular or defective, are governed by logical rules, and their limits are debated in philosophy, including the many rival definitions of philosophy itself.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain definitions and their kinds, relay rules for good definitions from logic and lexicography, describe formal definitions in ontologies and science, and distinguish definitions from descriptions and explanations.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Genus and differentia
- Kinds by method
- Logical rules
- Formal and informal uses
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Present its own stipulated definition as the standard or legal one.
- Quietly change a definition in a contract, policy or standard it has been asked to edit.
- Define groups of people in demeaning or excluding terms.
- Invent dictionary or legal definitions and attribute them to a source.
Only with a human decision
- Changing definitions in legal, regulatory or shared reference texts.
May
- Write and check definitions, stating which kind they are and their source.
- Point out circular, vague or inconsistent definitions in text it is asked to review.
Moral aspects Filled
- Legal and administrative definitions decide who gets rights, benefits or penalties.
- Definitions of people and groups can include or exclude them.
Who is affected
- People covered by legal definitions
- Readers and users of texts
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the concept; the author of each text answers for its definitions.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q108163 - registry parent class
related
- proposition - in registry terms
- logic - and philosophy of language
- dictionary - as lexical definitions
- ontology - for concepts
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.definition
- Wikidata: Q101072 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101072)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
Plane INF: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Statement of meaning
- Intensional, extensional, ostensive, stipulative, lexical, operational, ontology concept definitions; circular definitions
- A description characterises without fixing meaning; an explanation gives causes; an axiom is assumed
- Not a visible object; statements of meaning.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain kinds of definition
- relay rules and pitfalls
- describe formal definitions
- distinguish from descriptions
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Circular and too broad or narrow definitions
- Confusing definitions with descriptions
- Presenting contested philosophical definitions as settled
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- ISO 704 and ISO 1087 on terminology and definitions
- Ontology definition conventions such as genus-differentia patterns
- Legal drafting rules for statutory definitions
Context of use required Filled
- Fixing the meaning of terms.
- intensional definitions
- extensional and enumerative definitions
- ostensive definitions
- stipulative and precising definitions
- lexical definitions
- operational definitions
- recursive and mathematical definitions
- ontology concept definitions such as molecular cell type definitions
- defective definitions such as circular definitions
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q101072: definition - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Definition - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should intensional definition and operational definition be separate entries?
- How should terminology standards be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming defective forms and domain conventions; should they be split off?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q101072/spec.json