Exemplification

For the legal term meaning an attested copy of a document, see Exemplified copy.

Exemplification, in the philosophy of language, is a mode of symbolization characterized by the relation between a sample and what it refers to.

Description

Unlike ostension, which is the act of showing or pointing to a sample, exemplification is possession of a property plus reference to its label (Goodman, 1976). For example, if a color sample has the property labelled 'green', then the color sample exemplifies green. Basically, possession of a property amounts to being referred to by its label.

Exemplification means using examples to explain, convince, or amuse. Lending interest and information to writing, exemplification is one of the most common and effective ways to developing ideas. Examples may be developed in a sentence or more, or they may be only phrases or even single words, as in the following sentence: "Children like packaged breakfast foods, such as Wheaties, Cheerios, and Rice Krispies."

A mode of reference

Reference is the relation between something "standing for" something else. Usually it goes in one direction, for example, from a word to what it designates. But it is also used in both directions, for example, when product samples stand for certain properties they possess. While the label 'green' refers to a certain property of a product sample, the sample refers to the same property by exemplifying it. Therefore, exemplification is a mode of reference.

Uses of exemplification

• Product samples exemplify certain properties they possess.

• As a part in ostensive definition, i.e. definition by exemplification of what is defined. For example, an artist can define a new style by showing works that exemplify it.

• Defined exemplification is a pattern of essay development that uses specific instances (examples) to clarify a point, to add interest, or to persuade (Clouse, 2006).

See also

• Reference
• Ostensive definition
• Nominalism

References

• Goodman, Nelson, 1976, Languages of Art: An Approach to a Theory of Symbols. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, pp 52-57.
• Clouse, Barbara, 2006, Patterns for a Purpose: McGraw Hill Publishing Company, pg G-2

External links

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Goodman's aesthetics by Alessandro Giovannelli.