Re:Fake doctor saved thousands of infants and changed medica...
by eru on Thursday October 17, 2019 @10:48PM
(#21288241)
Yes. Though even in its literal meaning 'by definition' is a weaker statement than 'by evidence'. At least in any argument outside of mathematics.
Most of the time the 'by definition' argument just gives you a True Scotsmen.
Take the classic: all men are mortal (by definition in Ancient Greek), Socrates is a men, thus Socrates is mortal.
As an empiric argument, this would make sense. But the Greeks tried to reach 100% certainty. Mortality was included in their definition of a human (otherwise you'd be at least a semi-God or so.) Of course, that just shifts the uncertainty to the second part: we can not be sure that Socrates is indeed human by that definition, until he actually keels over.
Most of the time the 'by definition' argument just gives you a True Scotsmen.
Take the classic: all men are mortal (by definition in Ancient Greek), Socrates is a men, thus Socrates is mortal.
As an empiric argument, this would make sense. But the Greeks tried to reach 100% certainty. Mortality was included in their definition of a human (otherwise you'd be at least a semi-God or so.) Of course, that just shifts the uncertainty to the second part: we can not be sure that Socrates is indeed human by that definition, until he actually keels over.