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Re: Twin gestationFrom: ainsron (ainsron@sbcglobal.net)Tue Nov 13 12:32:26 2007
I think you are splitting hairs; most words we use have multiple meanings, depending on the circumstances, and the authors intent. If you want to cherry pick, you can always find an exclusive definition that suits you need and excludes ones that another might prefer: Viability means in general "capacity for survival" and is more specifically used to mean a capacity for living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions. The word is especially used in the following contexts: pregnancy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy> , viability refers to either: an early stage pregnancy that has a chance of reaching full-term and a live birth (as opposed to, for example, an ectopic pregnancy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectopic_pregnancy> ); or the shortest length of pregnancy after which a child born <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth> prematurely <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_birth> has a chance of survival. Generally, this ranges <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetus#Viability> from 20-27 weeks .\If you want to get into semantics, per Wikipedia: A definition may either give the meaning that a term bears in general use (a descriptive definition), or that which the speaker intends to impose upon it for the purpose of his or her discourse (a stipulative definition). Stipulative definitions differ from descriptive definitions in that they prescribe a new meaning either to a term already in use or to a new term. A descriptive definition can be shown to be right or wrong by comparison to usage, while a stipulative definition cannot. A stipulative definition, however, may be more or less useful. A <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persuasive_definition> persuasive definition, named by C.L. Stevenson, is a form of stipulative definition which purports to describe the 'true' or 'commonly accepted' meaning of a term, while in reality stipulating an altered use, perhaps as an argument for some view, for example that some system of government is democratic. Stevenson also notes that some definitions are 'legal' or 'coercive', whose object is to create or alter rights, duties or crimes.[ <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-1#_note-1> Given that a natural language <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_language> such as English <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language> contains, at any given time, a finite number of words, any comprehensive list of definitions must either be circular or leave some terms undefined. If every term of every definiens must itself be defined, where should we stop?[11] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-10#_note-10> A dictionary, for instance, insofar as it is a comprehensive list of lexical definitions <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexical_definition> , must resort to circularity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol_grounding> .[12] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-11#_note-11> [13] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-12#_note-12> [14] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-13#_note-13> Many philosophers have chosen instead to leave some terms undefined. The scholastic philosophers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholasticism> claimed that the highest genera (the so-called ten generalissima) cannot be defined, since we cannot assign any higher genus under which they may fall. Thus we cannot define being <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being> , unity and similar concepts.[15] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-14#_note-14> Locke <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke> supposes in An Essay Concerning Human <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Essay_Concerning_Human_Understanding> Understanding[16] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-15#_note-15> that the names of simple concepts do not admit of any definition. More recently Bertrand <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell> Russell sought to develop a formal language based on logical <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_atomism> atoms. Other philosophers, notably Wittgenstein <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Wittgenstein> , rejected the need for any undefined simples. Wittgenstein pointed out in his Philosophical Investigations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_Investigations> that what counts as a "simple" in one circumstance might not do so in another.[17] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-16#_note-16> He rejected the very idea that every explanation of the meaning of a term needed itself to be explained: "As though an explanation hung in the air unless supported by another one",[18] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition#_note-17#_note-17> claiming instead that explanation of a term is only needed when we need to avoid misunderstanding. Ronald E. Ainsworth, MD, FACOG -----Original Message----- From: ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net [mailto:ob-gyn-l@obgyn.net] On Behalf Of R. Daniel Braun Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:13 AM To: Multiple recipients of list OB-GYN-L Subject: Re: Twin gestation
>From Stedman's Medical Dictionary at http://www.dictionary.com <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/00-database-info?db=ahsmd> American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source <http://dictionary.reference.com/cite.html?qh=viable&ia=ahsmd> - Share This <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/viable#sharethis> vi.a.ble (v <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/imacr.gif> <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/prime.gif> <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/schwa.gif> -b <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/schwa.gif> l) adj. 1. Capable of living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions. 2. Capable of living outside the uterus. Used of a fetus or newborn. _____ vi <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/lprime.gif> a.bil <http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/prime.gif> i.ty n. The American HeritageR Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright C 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Dan On Nov 13, 2007 1:31 PM, Andrew Folley <agfolley@hotmail.com> wrote: Viability means in general "capacity for survival" and is more specifically used to mean a capacity for living, developing, or germinating under favorable conditions. The word is especially used in the following contexts: * pregnancy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy> , viability refers to either: o an early stage pregnancy that has a chance of reaching full-term and a live birth (as opposed to, for example, an ectopic pregnancy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectopic_pregnancy> ); or o the shortest length of pregnancy after which a child born <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth> prematurely <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_birth> has a chance of survival. Generally, this ranges from 20-27 weeks <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetus#Viability> _____
-- R. Daniel Braun, MD FACOG(L) CMT Professor Emeritus Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Indiana U. School of Medicine
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