StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Definitional Arguments - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Instructor Definitional Arguments In daily life definitions vary. Consequently, there are varied ways of making a definitional argument from a given concept. Some of the common examples of definitional arguments or issues include formal definitions and operational definitions (190-191)…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.1% of users find it useful
Definitional Arguments
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Definitional Arguments"

Download file to see previous pages

Notably, definitions appear in almost every argument, though sometimes they are hidden or tacitly accepted. But they rarely appear in isolation; the challenge in definitional arguments is for an individual to find the definitional claims that underlie other claims in academic, civic or other types of arguments. Pier Jennifer and Pattakos Alex provide a deeper understanding of definitional arguments through their respective articles “The Reprehensibility of the White Lie” and “The Meaning of Friendship in a Social-Networked World”.

In each article there is a central issue or argument, which has been developed through a series of steps. In the article “The Reprehensibility of the White Lie”, the central issue is the white lies. In this article, Pier uses various examples that are familiar to provide an understandable definition of white lies. For instance, Pier uses daily conversations to define the concept of white lies. Amongst the aspects that Pier uses to define white lies include of course, it was a blast, and it wasn’t me.

Pier’s main concern is the evasion of responsibility in as far as white lies are concerned throughout her article. In order to support her definition, Pier uses various criteria. . Another claim that Pier uses to justify the definition of white lies is the creation of the distinction between white lies and other forms of duplicity. Thirdly, Pier claims that white lies are destructive. The second criterion that Pier uses to justify the definition of white lies is crafting of definitions. One of the definitions crafted by Pier is the operational definition of white lies.

Pier tries to find a common ‘perfect’ lie capable of fitting all the mentioned claims or qualifications. Lastly, Pier used the criterion of mapping the formulated claims and crafted definition to come up with a convincing conclusion in regards to definition of white lies (206-209). In the second article, “The Meaning of Friendship in a Social-Networked World”, Pattakos’ main or central issue is friends and how their acquisition contributes to a meaningful life. Just like Pier, Pattakos uses familiar examples and concepts to help in defining friends.

In addition, Pattakos uses ideas from different stakeholders and scholars such as Aristotle and Mark Zuckerberg to try and establish the definition of friends and its relationship with meaningful life. In a bid to justify the definition, Pattakos employs various criteria. The first criterion employed by Pattakos in the article is the use of claims. Pattakos has employed various claims in a bid to justify the definition of friends. The first claim is that friends significantly contribute to meaningful life.

Another claim that Pattakos makes in relation to finding the definition of friends is that various reasons prompt the search for the meaning of friends. For instance, the intrinsic motivation of persons and the fact that it is a megatrend within the 21st century to understand and

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Tags
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Definitional Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/english/1473776-definitional-arguments
(Definitional Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/english/1473776-definitional-arguments.
“Definitional Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/english/1473776-definitional-arguments.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Definitional Arguments

The Environmental Security Debate

Nevertheless, in both arguments, advocates call for enhanced attention to the national and international significance of eco-system wellbeing, yet the second circumstance holds singular interest for students of argument.... The paper “The Environmental Security Debate” seeks to evaluate environmental security, which is labeled as a relevant subject matter in international affairs and it is being exploited to define the motives of countries under an array of contexts....
8 Pages (2000 words) Assignment

Letter by Martin Luther King

King uses Definitional Arguments to explain just and unjust laws.... Definitional Arguments help listeners to grasp the idea at once and inform them about legal rules and principles of social justice.... These arguments are crucial for the speech because they explain to unprepared listeners the principles and social rules of a free society and equal rights.... It is possible to say that King skillfully structured the essay using supportive arguments and persuasion....
2 Pages (500 words) Article

Categorical Definition Argument Writing about Heroes

This paper "Categorical Definition Argument Writing about Heroes" discusses a Hero as a man who ardently devotes his life to the divine and inner truth and shares his vision with the rest of the world.... For Carlyle, this is the definition of a true man: one who is living his life by divine truths....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

DEFINITIONAL ARGUMENT

Although there are dictionary definitions of most prominently used words, these definitions oftentimes fail to capture the subtle… In certain contexts, this difficulty in understanding can result in legal or moral arguments.... In certain contexts, this difficulty in understanding can result in legal or moral arguments.... While the criterion of murder has been argued to contain within it the act of assisted suicide, there are many counter-arguments that exist to this contention....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Arguments of Definition

Filter bubbles according to Pariser (2011) leads to some information not being displayed once an individual searches for it or even in the private social media accounts.... The filter bubble leads to the most important information being displayed and wrong or irrelevant information… This leads to misinformation or leading to an individual having to search again and again in order to get not only the correct information but plenty of it that can be sufficient in the case of a research for example....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

The Analysis of the Discourse Community

Such a group is referred to as a discourse community.... John Swales, a professor of linguistics at the University of Michigan, offers his definition of a discourse community in his book,… He provides a set of characteristics for identifying a group as members of a particular discourse community....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Discourse Community: Taylor Swift

Human beings are social living beings and hence they always for groups and societies that are cohesively joined together by commonness of behaviors, interest and destiny among other aspects.... In this case, the group comprises a discourse community.... One such person who has a well… Taylor Swift is an American song writer and a performing artist who has achieved incredible goals in her music career....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Significance of Descartes Two Definition of God

"Significance of Descartes' Two Definition of God" paper examines Descartes' two definitions of God that are part of the continued efforts that reinforce relevant arguments about the existence of God.... It is the duty of philosophers to evaluate such arguments and hence.... hellip; Descartes' two definitions of God are universally important in helping scholars and philosophers to understand the existence of God, Indeed, the two definitions agree with specific cosmological arguments that support the existence of God....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us