Week 13: Week 13 — Argument of Definition

1. A definitional argument claims that something fits — or does not fit — a contested category. The argument depends on how the key term is defined.
2. Before arguing whether something is X, you must establish what X means. The definition step is not optional; it controls the entire argument.
3. A lexical definition uses standard dictionary meaning. A stipulative definition assigns a specific meaning the writer establishes for the purpose of the argument.
4. A contested term is one whose definition is itself in dispute — 'art,' 'harassment,' 'hate speech,' 'meritocracy,' and 'justice' are all contested in argumentative contexts.
5. Criteria are the defining characteristics of a category. A definitional argument applies agreed-upon criteria to a specific case to determine whether it qualifies.
6. The argument proceeds: establish the definition of X and its criteria → apply those criteria to the specific case → conclude that the case is (or is not) an instance of X.
7. Boundary cases are instances near the edge of a category — where reasonable people disagree about whether the criteria are fully met. These are often the most interesting subjects for definitional argument.
8. Definitions can be extended (applying a term to new cases not previously covered) or narrowed (excluding cases that seemed to qualify under a broader definition).
9. Whoever controls the definition often controls the argument. Naming something a 'freedom fighter' or a 'terrorist' determines the entire rhetorical frame before a single piece of evidence is presented.
10. Definitional arguments appear in law (what constitutes 'fraud'), medicine (what qualifies as a 'disability'), ethics (what counts as 'harm'), and everyday civic life.

Ask at home: Can you win an argument by controlling how a key word is defined?

En español: ¿Puedes ganar un argumento controlando cómo se define una palabra clave?