Rahmendefinition

Rahmendefinition is a term used in German-language discourse to denote a type of definitional framing that sets the boundaries and context of a concept rather than attempting to enumerate all of its essential properties. It functions as a communicative device meant to guide interpretation by clarifying what the term covers and what it excludes.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Rahmen (frame) and Definition. It appears in philosophy, rhetoric, and information science as a strategic tool to frame a concept for discussion, to locate it within a particular context, and to reduce ambiguity across disciplines or stakeholders.

Key features: A rahmendefinition specifies scope and context, identifies typical exemplars and exclusions, and foregrounds how the term should be used in a discussion. It is intended to prevent misinterpretation and facilitate cross-disciplinary dialogue, but it is not a full ontological or exhaustive definition of a concept.

Example: In a digital-policy debate on privacy, a rahmendefinition might state that privacy refers to control over access to personal information in electronic contexts, explicitly excluding physical privacy, data governance concerns beyond access, and normative judgments about what counts as sensitive data.

Relation and critique: Rahmendefinitions complement other definitional approaches such as lexical or stipulative definitions. Critics warn that they can be vague if the frame is not anchored with concrete criteria or examples; typically they are paired with more precise definitions to ensure clarity.

See also: framing, scope, definitional frame, boundary object.