ISO 22745-2:2010(E)

9 Terms relating to characteristics

9.1
characteristic

unit of thought that corresponds to properties that are common to a set of objects

9.2
essential characteristic

characteristic which is indispensable to understanding a concept

[ISO 1087-1:2000, definition 3.2.6]

9.3
delimiting characteristic

essential characteristic used for distinguishing a concept from related concepts

NOTE   The delimiting characteristic support for the back may be used for distinguishing the concepts stool and chair.

[ISO 1087-1:2000, definition 3.2.7]

9.4
necessary characteristic

characteristic that is always true of each object in the extension of a given concept

9.5
sufficient characteristic

characteristic that is one of a set of characteristics that determines whether a specific object belongs in the extension of a given concept

NOTE   A sufficient characteristic is not necessarily true of all objects in the extension of the concept.

EXAMPLE   Any object that has the properties corresponding to the characteristics ‘having given birth’ and ‘being human’ belong in the extension of the concept ‘woman’, but not all women have given birth.


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