definiens (expression that does the
The expression that does the defining.
26 Matching Annotations
- Sep 2021
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s3.us-central-1.wasabisys.com s3.us-central-1.wasabisys.com
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A definition of religion, then, r cing non-religion
A worthwhile discussion point as this could be very debatable which comes first. A chicken or the egg scenario.
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DEFINITION 25 One of the key practical payoffs of defining is to address or overcome ambiguities in communication.
This is important but how exactly could this be done with so many schools of thought on the subject with such broad differences.
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into a single academic unit (Hanegraaff 1999, 337-338); (vi) Whose definiendum names an eternal and unchanging thing (Belzen 1999, 96-97); (vii) that is atemporal by delineating everything that was, is, and will be a religion, including all of the unactualized but Possible religions (Platvoet 1999a, 248); and (viii) that is uniquely true or valid (Belzen 1999; 96; Platvoet 1999b, 503).
More aspects of a universally accepted definition of a religion.
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(i) that is universally — : .. on ars) (Platvoet 1999a, 247); (ii) that defines a concept possessed by | uman and is rep. resented in all languages (Platvoet 1999a, 250); (iii) whose — . US te whe a unrevisable (Platvoet 1999a, 261; 1999b, 465); (iv) that describes the genus to w uch all particular religions as species fall under (Cox 1999, 267); (v) that groups Specialized academic areas/approaches (e.g. medieval Islam, pre-contact Inca, snake-handling in modern Appalachia)
Aspects of a universally accepted definition of a religion.
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There appears to be no single understanding of the term u ted at loner .
Very important point to mention for all the applicable theories and is important to our discussion on them.
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Perhaps the most problematic feature of homeostatic-style definitions is their con- nection with an attempt to naturalize the thing defined:
Con for this theory.
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ne limitation to a homeostatic-style approach j, tha it calls for a robust theory of religion
Con for this theory.
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eligion is to be defined by reference to a homeostatic cluster of commonly men- tioned features, e.g. actions, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, communities, discourses, emotions, experiences, institutions, narratives, representations, signs, etc. They are clustered, it might be argued, in the sense that the presence of one of these features makes the presence of others more likely;
Outline of this theory's definition.
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ne advantage of homeostatic-style defini- tions is that particular examples can be empirically tested, at least to some degree;
Pro for this theory.
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Homeostatic-style definitions that are constructed in this manner insert quasi-monothetic elements into a polythetic framework;
Important point for homeostatic property cluster approach.
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There is one other important element of this type of definition, at least as envisioned by Boyd: the individual proper- ties of the cluster are allowed to be hierarchically ordered, in the sense that the presence of some might provide greater weight than others for applying the definiendum.
Important note for the homeostatic property cluster approach.
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In a nutshell, a homeostatic property cluster is a family of natural properties which are non-accidentally related—i.e. the presence of one of them increases the likelihood of the presence of others—in virtue of common underlying ‘mechanisms.
Definition of a homeostatic property cluster.
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A relatively new type of definition, which seems Promising ; eid worries raised against polythetic definitions, has arisen ; ethics ang Ing some of the science but has not yet received attention in the study of religion\. ae Philosophy of pher Richard Boyd developed the theory of homeostati. ro = sperican philoso- metaethics as a way of understanding how moral properties (good, is Usters (HPC) in be natural ones and introduced an allied form of definition 1. mee, . ag definition (Boyd 1988). He later extended Sa to ihe Philosophy, ¢ Scie, we “luster ing sense of natural kinds such as water or biologica SPecies ( Boyd Nee j 1999) nN mak- >? MOve that
Noting that this is a rather new idea. Important to consider that this may need to be viewed more critically and thoroughly as its points do not have as clear pro's and con's as others.
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The construction of polythetic definitions raises several problems. To begin with, how many criteria does something need to match in order to qualify:
This is very important to consider when we are analyzing that question and much discourse will be needed to answer it if it even can be answered.
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Some have rejected functional definitions entirely as committing the ‘functionalist fallacy’ (inferring that y causally explains x from the fact that x may function to produce y
Important to consider for discussion on how true this statement may be.
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Others have more specifically cri- tiqued functionalist definitions of religion by pointing out that they (i) leave out that which practitioners often take as the most important aspects of their religion, (ii) are too static, ignoring historical change, or (iii) are far too broad in that they become unspecific, vague, and include things that many would agree would not reasonably fall into the category (see, e.g. Fitzgerald 1997, 92-93: Riesebrodt 2010, xi).
Important points to consider when arguing the previously annotated point.
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Meaning realists of the internalist variety tend towards lexical definitions,
important discussion point.
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Real ‘ per genus proximum et differentiam specificarn. lan/Scholast; definitions have
Important point on real definitions being typically accepted through a traditionally Greek thought process.
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elucidatory
To make clear or clarification.
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to abandon
The quotes following this annotated section touch on varying ideas of what defining religion boils down to or reasons not to do it but rather focus on what we can learn from it. Is this a good or bad approach?
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efine
The "there may simply be no need to define it." quote is an important concept that would require must discussion but should be noted as important.
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“pulf _.. between those aan believe that some loosely cae very important and those of . vent to allow us to get on with 10 oes C ae conceptualization of religion sipierestlt features” (Bruce 20u, m i : j ‘ sey our primary purpose of exploring its ented a definition of relig
This quote highlights the difference of opinion between scholars and should be useful for discussion on the topic.
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Definitions of religion are not value-free; they are often implicated in power struc- tures both inside and outside of the academy
Important note that religions hold strong meaning even in their basic defining terms.
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defi- nitional lexicalism assigns priority to the word; definitional objectualism seeks to determine the thing.
Key difference that will be important later for analysis.
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There are two common methods of defining: extension and intension; the former takes the empirical as its starting point, the latter the conceptual; these methods are not mutually exclusive.
Important to consider which is being used so that we can understand which definition we are using at a given time.
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