Määritelmäketju

Määritelmäketju, often translated as definition chain or definitional chain, is a concept primarily used in philosophy and linguistics to describe a sequence of definitions that lead back to fundamental, undefined terms. It addresses how the meaning of words and concepts is established and understood within a system. The idea is that if we define every word using other words, we must eventually arrive at terms whose meaning is understood not through further definition, but through direct experience, intuition, or stipulation.

Without such a grounding, a chain of definitions could theoretically extend infinitely, rendering the entire system of meanings unstable or meaningless. Philosophers have debated the nature of these fundamental, undefined terms. Some argue they are empirical observations (e.g., the meaning of "red" is understood by seeing the color), while others suggest they are basic logical or axiomatic concepts. In linguistics, the concept relates to how a lexicon is structured, with some words being primitive and others derived.

The practical implication of a definition chain is the need for a foundational set of agreed-upon meanings. This is crucial for clear communication, logical reasoning, and the construction of coherent theories. If the base of the definition chain is shaky or unclear, the meanings built upon it will also be problematic. Understanding the structure of definition chains helps in analyzing the assumptions underlying different belief systems and vocabularies.