Basic term
The word basic term is used with at least two different meanings: The first, colloquial general meaning stands for a basic term in terms of content . The second, epistemological meaning formally describes the undefined term of a theory, science, etc., i.e. a term within the theory or science that is not defined with terms from science itself.
The basic term in the colloquial meaning
A basic concept is a basic concept; a basic, fundamental meaning or a simplest, essential idea, a conception of something that can be further built on, an elementary prerequisite.
In contrast to the basic concept in the sense of the philosophy of science, it is not (primarily) about indefiniteness or indefinability, but in particular about a simple, fundamental concept of a field (which may or may not be defined).
- Example: In the next few weeks I will introduce you to the basic concepts of chemistry.
- Example: Emanation is a "basic concept of Neoplatonism".
The basic term in the sense of the philosophy of science
A basic term (also: elementary or basic term) in the sense of philosophy of science is a term that is used to define derived terms. Basic concepts are the basis or the basis of hierarchical conceptual systems through which the conceptual inventory of a discipline or, more generally, a field of knowledge is provided. Basic terms that serve to build a basic discipline are undefined basic terms . Basic terms of disciplines that are not themselves basic disciplines can be derived with the help of basic terms of more fundamental disciplines or even with the help of undefined basic terms. The undefined basic concepts of a discipline are linked to one another by holistic conceptual systems.
Basic terms in the discipline of tailoring are needle , thread , scissors and cloth . These can be derived from other disciplines in metal processing or textile manufacture . Typical undefined basic terms in the basic discipline of physics are space, time and mass.
Basic concepts for all knowledge in general were given by Aristotle and later by Kant and called categories . In mathematics , the undefined basic terms are also referred to as axiomatic basic terms because they are used to build up the mathematical axiom systems. Following the example of mathematics, other disciplines - such as physics - have tried to axiomatize their field of knowledge and introduce axiomatic basic concepts. In general, the philosophy of science today speaks of undefined basic terms through which the conceptual systems of the basic sciences of physics, religious studies , ethics , psychology , law , economics or sociology are built up.
There are basic concepts in every conceptual system (theory, science). But that does not mean that there are absolute basic concepts, i. H. Terms that must be a basic term in every system. The property of being a basic concept is therefore only relative to a conceptual system.
In modern philosophy of science, basic concepts are elementary concepts in a formal sense that are not itself defined in a science, theory, etc. In another material sense, basic terms are understood to mean indefinable terms. Claiming indefinability is different from the practice of not defining a term.
In mathematics in particular, it is controversial whether basic concepts “are represented in an axiomatic system exhaustively through their relationships to the other concepts” - according to Hilbert - or not - according to Gottlob Frege and Gödel .
In a strict scientific language, the rule that applies to noun definitions is that every term used is either defined or should be an undefined basic term. According to a widespread understanding of science, in non-axiomatized sciences, an undefined basic term is required to be self-evident ( evidence ) and / or a kind of intuition .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b basic term. In: Duden spelling dictionary. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .
- ↑ a b basic term. In: Dictionary of the German language. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .
- ↑ a b basic term. In: Pons spelling dictionary. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .
- ↑ a b basic term. In: Dictionary of the German language. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, accessed June 24, 2020 .
- ↑ a b c basic term. In: The Free Dictionary. Retrieved June 24, 2020 .
- ^ Lexicon of Ethics . Religion: technical terms and people. In: Christoph Kunz (Ed.): Emanation . Stark, Freising 2001.
- ^ A b Eike von Savigny: Basic course in scientific definition . 4th edition. dtv, Munich 1976, p. 143 .
- ↑ a b c Palle Yourgrau: Gödel, Einstein and the consequences . Beck, Munich 2005, p. 197 .