Metadefining

Metadefining refers to the process of defining or describing something by referencing itself. This is a concept that appears in various fields, including philosophy, computer science, and linguistics. In essence, it involves creating a definition or rule that encompasses the very thing being defined. For example, a mathematical statement that is true for all possible instances of a given type of object could be considered a metadefinition for that type.

In computer science, metadefinitions often relate to metadata, which is data that describes other data. A metadefinition in this context might be a set of rules or a schema that dictates how certain types of data should be structured or interpreted. This allows for more flexible and self-describing systems. For instance, a programming language might have metadefinitions that describe the syntax and semantics of the language itself, enabling the creation of compilers and interpreters.

Linguistically, metadefinitions can be seen in the way we define words. Often, the definition of a word will itself contain other words, and ultimately, the entire language is defined within itself, with words being understood in relation to other words. This recursive nature is a fundamental aspect of how language functions. The concept highlights the intricate and often self-referential nature of systems and knowledge.