SUO: Re: SUOP Topic :> Definition Of Example
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
SUOPT :> Example. Note 5
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o
JA = Jon Awbrey
MW = Matthew West
OED = Oxford English Dictionary
Re: SUOPT :> Example 03. http://suo.ieee.org/email/msg11655.html
Copied in with corrections here:
JA: What is an example, in particular,
a case falling under a definition?
In your second answer to the
question "What is an example",
you supplied the following text:
MW: Under a definition an example is some informative
material (as opposed to normative material) that
aids comprehension of the definition.
Permit me to raise two issues, or Issues, as the case
may be, about your ostensible Definition of "Example".
Issue 1. It invokes three additional terms, "comprehension",
"informative", and "normative", each of which invokes
a concept which is, at least at first sight, likely to
be far more complicated than the term in the definiendum,
and the last two of which you are apparently invoking in
a specialized disciplinary, regional, or technical sense
that has very little eluctable or obvious relationship
to the ordinary senses of the words, indeed, to their
use in other disciplines, regions, or technical areas.
Issue 2. Though the previous Issue does not of necessity raise
insuperable or insurmountable issues of its own, this
approach to the Definition of Example does go against
the grain, or vitiate the overall spirit of the grain,
with respect to that Principle that recommends itself
to all sober intellects, to wit, of StepWise Refining.
MW: From the OED again --
MW, quoting OED (we'll Trust him on this, on Account, for now):
| Normative. Establishing or setting up a norm or standard;
| deriving from, expressing, or implying a general standard,
| norm, or ideal.
Nicely set, but not a bit Informative (q.v.),
as all this definition does is set forth the
Relation (q.v.) between the adjectival form
and the more substantive pensynonyms whence
it derives, namely, Ideal, Norm, Standard,
needless to say "Quod Vide" -- so I'll
say it anyway. Consider it said.
MW, quoting OED (I 'had' an OEDipus complex, but Webster is more Webfooted):
| Informative. Having the quality of informing.
Ditto. Ibid.
Quo Vadis?
Let's jump on the King's Horse and ride off in 3 directions at once:
SUOPT :> Comprehension 01. http://suo.ieee.org/email/msg11669.html
SUOPT :> Information 01. http://suo.ieee.org/email/msg11665.html
SUOPT :> Norm 01. http://suo.ieee.org/email/msg11664.html
MW: It is really only necessary to worry about the definition of
terms that are not used in their ordinary dictionary sense.
Now, Matthew, if that we're even the least bit true,
we all all be short one hobby and/or horse (q.v.).
Jon Awbrey
o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~~~~o