Question 1

A lexical definition reports the conventional or established (intensional) meaning of a term.

Accepted Answer

A lexical definition aims to describe how a term is commonly used within a language, reflecting its established meaning.

Question 2

When I define a word by pointing to the objects the word applies to (e.g., I point at Fido and say "Dog"), I am giving an ostensive definition.

Accepted Answer

An ostensive definition involves defining a term by pointing to examples of what the term represents, such as pointing to a dog and saying "Dog".

Question 3

All terms can be defined extensionally.

Accepted Answer

Not all terms can be defined extensionally because some concepts are abstract or subjective, lacking clear, concrete instances to define them by.

Question 4

A definition is too narrow if the definiens fails to apply to some objects in the extension of the definiendum.

Accepted Answer

A definition is too narrow if it excludes some instances that should be included within the scope of the term being defined.

Question 5

The problem of equivocation occurs when a word (or phrase) is used with more than one meaning in an argument but the validity of the argument depends on the word's being used with the same meaning throughout.

Accepted Answer

Equivocation is a logical fallacy where a word is used with different meanings in an argument, leading to a misleading or invalid conclusion.

Question 6

A persuasive definition is a definition that seems to make sense to most people.

Accepted Answer

A persuasive definition is designed to influence attitudes or beliefs by using emotionally charged language, rather than simply providing a neutral or commonly accepted meaning.

Question 7

The statements "Joe loves Mary" and "Mary is loved by Joe" express the same proposition.

Accepted Answer

Both statements convey the same meaning, indicating that Joe has affection for Mary, just phrased differently.

Question 8

A single statement may express more than one proposition.

Accepted Answer

A single statement can express multiple propositions if it contains multiple ideas or claims that can be evaluated as true or false independently.

Question 9

A statement has emotive force when it conveys information.

Accepted Answer

A statement has emotive force when it evokes an emotional response, not necessarily when it conveys information.

Question 10

A word is ambiguous if it has more than one meaning.

Accepted Answer

A word is considered ambiguous when it can be interpreted in multiple ways due to having more than one meaning.

Question 11

"Running" is a term.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "Running" is a term....

Question 12

A term's intension is the set of things to which the term applies.

Accepted Answer

The intension of a term refers to the inherent sense or the set of attributes or properties that the term conveys, not the set of things to which it applies. The latter is known as the extension.

Question 13

A stipulative definition is a type of extensional definition.

Accepted Answer

A stipulative definition assigns a meaning to a word for the first time, while an extensional definition specifies the set of objects a term applies to. They are different types of definitions.

Question 14

Ostensive definitions are a type of extensional definition.

Accepted Answer

Ostensive definitions involve pointing to examples to define a term, which is a form of extensional definition as it specifies the set of objects the term applies to.

Question 15

The class of attorneys is a proper subclass of the class of lawyers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The class of attorneys is a proper...

Question 16

A definition is too wide (too broad) if the definiens applies to objects outside the extension of the definiendum.

Accepted Answer

A definition is too broad if it includes things that should not be included, meaning the definiens (the defining part) applies to more objects than the definiendum (the term being defined).

Question 17

A merely verbal dispute occurs when two or more people express in words different views on a subject (e.g., one avows theism and the other agnosticism), but do not behave differently (e.g., both go to the same church).

Accepted Answer

A merely verbal dispute involves disagreement in words but not in underlying beliefs or actions; in this case, the individuals have different beliefs (theism vs. agnosticism) but similar actions (attending the same church), indicating a deeper disagreement beyond just words.

Question 18

The following argument involves the use of emotionally loaded language. Write a well-crafted version of the argument, replacing the emotionally loaded verbiage with more neutral language.
The civil laws of the United States protect only criminals, not law-abiding citizens. A major reform of these laws is called for to restore order to this great country of ours.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The following argument involves the use of...

Question 19

The following argument involves the use of emotionally loaded language. Write a well-crafted version of the argument, replacing the emotionally loaded verbiage with more neutral language.
The death penalty is a farce. After some vicious killer is convicted and sentenced to die, his case is automatically appealed. Appeal follows appeal, dragging on for decades. Usually these are subsidized by the very community that has been wronged in the form of supplying free lawyers or providing the convicted assassin time and resources to learn the legal loopholes that will prevent his execution.

Accepted Answer