{"id":101,"date":"2010-03-11T13:59:13","date_gmt":"2010-03-11T18:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/?p=101"},"modified":"2010-03-11T15:47:31","modified_gmt":"2010-03-11T20:47:31","slug":"a-new-understanding-of-definitions-they-aint-what-we-thought-they-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/2010\/03\/11\/a-new-understanding-of-definitions-they-aint-what-we-thought-they-was\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Understanding of Definitions: They Ain’t What We Thought They Was!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Typically when you think of definitions, you probably think of those little phrases that trail terms in the dictionary.1<\/a>, 2<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 We are going to look at the process of defining a term (synonymous for now with “defining a word”) to see if we can better understand the process and take some mystery out of it. My hope is that after a new understanding of definitions, we’ll better be able to understand their practical value to us.<\/p>\n

I’ll start by just laying some things out there:<\/p>\n

What’s a term? A term is a word or phrase that stands for a concept.<\/em><\/p>\n

Well, what’s a concept? A concept is an image in a person’s head.<\/em><\/p>\n

This image can be thought of as a collection of important characteristics. Imagine an orange. When you think of an orange, you probably think of something round, with a dimply rind, orange in color. There are many more characteristics associated with a real-life orange, but you only imagine a relatively limited amount. The amount is probably not quantifiable other than to say what you think of is finite<\/em>, and the number of actual characteristics a real-life physical orange has is infinite<\/em>. The point is that the image in your head of an orange is abstract relative to an actual physical orange<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What’s a definition, then? A definition can be non-verbal (as in pointing at an orange and saying “That’s what I mean”). But usually we think of a definition as verbal (as in explaining “This is what I mean when I say ‘orange’…”). Let’s just pay attention to verbal definitions for now.<\/p>\n

So, what’s a definition? A definition is a word or phrase that aims to help someone conceptualize a term.<\/em><\/p>\n

That is, a definition is goal-directed behavior<\/em>. That goal is to help someone else conceptualize a term. So agendas can come into play when defining a term. That agendas come into play is not necessarily an evil thing, it’s just something to note. When someone is defining a term, he may have personal or professional\u00a0agendas he is trying to forward; he is not speaking absolute truth about “thee meaning of the term.”<\/p>\n

With the above understood, let’s now look into the process of defining a term.\u00a0 Let’s say we use the term “heebie jeebies” in a sentence. And let’s say we use it in a sentence heard by\u00a0Larry, who’s not all that familiar with English, who is still learning words here and there. We use the term “heebie jeebies” in a sentence, and we see Larry’s brow furrow. He presumably doesn’t understand the term. No image comes to mind for him. He has no concept for the term “heebie jeebies.”\u00a0 <\/em>So this is when we go about seeking to clarify for Larry what we mean by this term.\u00a0 We define the term.<\/p>\n

To understand the term “definition,” think of an old television.\u00a0 It has a particular definition to it.\u00a0 Now think of a high-definition television.\u00a0 It has improved definition.\u00a0 The implication is that definition has to do with clarification of an image.\u00a0<\/em> We are doing essentially the same thing when we define a term for Larry.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Larry has little to no image in\u00a0his head when we use a particular term, so we define the term, and as a result\u00a0Larry has a clearer image of what we mean when we use the term.<\/em>\u00a0 Put differently,when we define a term, we clarify a concept.<\/p>\n

But when we define a term, we use more terms, which is to say that when we define a term, we depend on other concepts to clarify a particular concept.\u00a0 When we define\u00a0“heebie jeebies” as “feeling as if your skin is crawling,” this string of words we give, gives\u00a0Larry images in his head.\u00a0 From this combination of images,\u00a0Larry can get a better sense of what is meant by the term “heebie jeebies.”\u00a0 So, when we say “heebie jeebies,” and define it as “feeling as if your skin is crawling,” the next time we say “heebie jeebies,”\u00a0Larry will bring to mind the image of that feeling.<\/p>\n

Here is where agendas come into play.\u00a0 If I have an interest in\u00a0Larry understanding the feeling of heebie jeebies, I’ll define “heebie jeebies” as “feeling as if your skin is crawling.”\u00a0 But if my goal is different–as in having an interest in Larry seeing heebie jeebies from a scientific perspective–I’ll define “heebie jeebies” in neuro-chemical terms.\u00a0 If my goal is different still–as in having an interest in Larry seeing heebie jeebies from a terpsichorean perspective–I’ll define “heebie jeebies” in choreographical terms.\u00a0 That is, depending on my interests, I’ll provide in my definitions\u00a0concepts (terms)\u00a0aligned with my interests<\/em>.\u00a0 I’ll call this phenomenon “the principle of definition bias<\/strong><\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Here is where things can get really interesting.\u00a0 I’ve had a big problem with how depression is characterized in commercials.\u00a0 In at least one commercial I’ve seen for a prescription drug, I’ve heard the term “depression” defined as “a chemical imbalance.”\u00a0 When we apply the principle of definition bias to this definition, we immediately admit (as well as see)\u00a0that there is a biased, goal-aligned perspective of depression being forwarded in the definition.\u00a0 That perspective is biased in seeing depression in one way but not other ways.\u00a0 (For example, depression is not seen in emotional terms, or functional terms, or practical terms, but instead in chemical terms.)\u00a0 When we call to mind that there is a prescription drug being sold, you can see how the definition of “depression” as “a chemical imbalance” is a convenient way<\/em> to define “depression.”\u00a0 By defining “depression” as “a chemical imbalance,” well, it “makes sense” to fight the chemical imbalance with balancing chemicals.\u00a0 That is, with the drug being marketed . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

You can probably tell I see the bias in the definition of the term “depression”\u00a0as inimical.\u00a0 But definition isn’t always inimical: It can\u00a0be seen as organizational.\u00a0 An organization (whether it be an organization of many people or an organization of just you) has goals.\u00a0 In having those goals, the organization takes on particular perspectives about various things in its path.\u00a0 It defines terms relative to its goals, whether it does it actively or passively (accidentally).\u00a0 Essentially, it organizes its life around its goals and consistent with its goals.\u00a0 It might see value in something that you don’t value because some of your goals differ.<\/p>\n

Just look at the waste management industry.\u00a0 It sees value in those black garbage bags you call “trash.”\u00a0 Its goal is to collect what your goal is to throw out.\u00a0 You define as “trash” what it defines as “bounty.”\u00a0 And taking on your bias about black garbage bags would probably sink the waste management industry.\u00a0 Instead, it organizes black garbage bags differently than you do.<\/p>\n

We can make a more general characterization about definitions and say that definitions are strategic<\/em>.\u00a0 They can be inimical, they can be organizational, they can be any number of things, but generally speaking, they are strategic, meaning they are aligned\u00a0to aid the achievement of\u00a0our goals.\u00a0 Definitions are not “truths,” disembodied from human construction.\u00a0 Instead, they are very human, and in being very human, they are biased by humans, and in particular, biased by their goals.<\/em><\/p>\n

What we’re talking about essentially\u00a0when talking about definitions\u00a0is conceptualization<\/em>.\u00a0 Definitions are concepts about concepts<\/em>.\u00a0 How we conceptualize (define)\u00a0things has effects on our behavior.\u00a0 These effects can be to our advantage.\u00a0 They can be to our disadvantage.\u00a0 They can affect our speed, our comfort, our confidence, etc.\u00a0 The effects can be immediate, less immediate,\u00a0eventual, etc. \u00a0But the general point is that definition has human effects, social consequences, etc.<\/p>\n

We need to be aware of the principle of definition bias.\u00a0 We need to take a critical eye to the definitions we hear, rather than blindly accepting them.\u00a0We need to know that goals operate when defining terms, and definitions aren’t without the hint of goals.\u00a0 But taking a critical eye doesn’t mean all-out rejecting definitions; it just means to consider the goals and whether we respect the goals\u00a0in the ways the definer does.<\/p>\n

NOTES<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

1. You refer to this phrase as “the meaning of the term.” So, a meaning and a definition are pretty much the same in your head.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0word “definition” is bit better of a term than the word “meaning.” Why? The word “meaning” has a lot of different, um, meanings, so it can be a bit confusing what its, um, definition is.<\/p>\n

For example, words can have meanings, but also can actions, and also can stories, and also results, and so on. Each kind of thing represented by the word “meaning” differs pretty significantly that you kinda havta distinguish what you imply by the word “meaning” when you use it if you’re having any kind of serious, technical conversation.<\/p>\n

Else, inevitably,\u00a0the word “meaning”\u00a0starts getting misapplied and confusing. If you’re just talking about word-meanings, in a conversation someone can start thinking about action-meanings and try to apply the same logic of word-meanings to action-meanings. That would be like trying to apply the same logic of color-orange to fruit-orange. The color orange does not grow on trees. Likewise, the action-meaning does not trail words in the dictionary.<\/p>\n

So we prefer to use the word “definition” instead of the word “meaning.”<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

2. We should note that dictionaries, at least in theory, are descriptive rather than prescriptive. That is, they are resources that document how terms have been used historically; they show roughly how particular terms were defined in the past. Dictionaries, at least in theory, are not<\/em> legislators of definitions. That is, they do not<\/em> determine what a term “should” mean. This essay talks about the prescriptive nature of definition. In my opinion, more often people operate in this mode and less often operate in the descriptive mode. That is, people talk about what they<\/em> mean, and in so doing determine what a particular term “should” mean, at least when they use the term. People don’t strictly talk in a way consistent with historical dictionary definitions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Typically when you think of definitions, you probably think of those little phrases that trail terms in the dictionary.1, 2\u00a0 We are going to look at the process of defining a term (synonymous for now with “defining a word”) to see if we can better understand the process and take some mystery out of it. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9,10],"class_list":["post-101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-semantics","tag-definition","tag-meaning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101\/revisions\/137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benhauck.com\/offthemap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}