User:Faustnh/Two Kinds Of Meaning

A convenient distinction of two kinds of meaning.

Faustino Núñez Hernández

For many cases, it seems convenient to make explicit a distinction between two different kinds of meaning of words, symbols or signifiers:

> "Inward meaning", "input meaning" or "class meaning": is the set of inner things or objects (-words), that take part or participate inside the building or construction of the meant word \ object.

(For example, the inward meaning, input meaning or class meaning of "Vertebral Column" is: a set of vertebrae).

> "Outward meaning", "output meaning" or "instance meaning": is the set of outer things or objects (-words), inside of whose building or construction the meant word \ object participates or takes part.

(For example, the outward meaning, output meaning or instance meaning of "Vertebral Column" is: the set of vertebrate animals).

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A global unique sense of "meaning" could be considered by the union or combination of input meaning and output meaning.

Taken this consideration, the "definition" ( "meaning" ) of a word or object, can be formalized as a two-side "Input-Output Table", "Value Table", "Definition Table", or "Meaning Table", similar to how a "Truth Table" gives the definition of a logical function:

Word \ Object
Input arguments	Output arguments
If    Input1	Then    Output1
If    Input2	Then    Output2
...etc...	...etc...

An "Input-Output Matrix" formalization may be also considerable.