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Definitions And Concepts·Intermediate·4 lessons·~260 min
How to construct, classify, and evaluate definitions rigorously
What you'll learn
Lessons
Introduces the purposes of definitions and why not every context calls for the same kind of definition, establishing the habit of asking 'what is this definition trying to do?' before evaluating it.
Breaks down the major kinds of definitions (lexical, stipulative, precising, theoretical, persuasive) and connects each one to the contexts where it is most appropriate.
Shows how to build definitions and test them for circularity, scope, obscurity, and usefulness, with a focus on the genus-and-differentia structure and necessary/sufficient conditions.
An integrative lesson that asks students to take a contested term in ordinary language, construct a definition, stress-test it against counterexamples, and revise it when the tests expose weaknesses.
How to study
Each lesson opens with a guided walkthrough — read it before the activity.
Look at why each step follows, not just what the answer is.
Know which rule applies and what would make the response weak before you start.
Optional context for the unit. Each lesson surfaces the concepts and rules it uses — these are here when you want the bigger picture.
The term being defined — the word or phrase whose meaning the definition is trying to clarify.
The part of the definition that does the defining — the explanation or account that supplies meaning to the definiendum.
The job a definition is intended to perform in a specific context, such as reporting usage, sharpening a concept, or fixing a technical meaning.
A defect in which the definiens depends on the very concept it is supposed to explain — directly or through near-synonyms.
The range of cases a definition includes or excludes — neither so broad that it admits non-instances, nor so narrow that it excludes real ones.
A classical pattern that defines a term by naming a broader class (genus) and the distinguishing feature (differentia) that sets the target apart from other members of that class.
Different categories of definitions such as lexical, stipulative, precising, theoretical, and persuasive, each suited to different tasks.
A necessary condition is one that must hold for the term to apply; a sufficient condition is one whose holding guarantees the term applies. A good definition typically states conditions that are both.