Single Idea 11132

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / d. Concepts as prototypes]

Full Idea

In the prototype theory of concepts, a lexical concept has probabilistic structure in that something falls under it if it satisfies a sufficient number of properties encoded by the constituents. It originates in Wittgenstein's 'family resemblance'.

Gist of Idea

The prototype theory is probabilistic, picking something out if it has sufficient of the properties

Source

E Margolis/S Laurence (Concepts [2009], 2.2)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.8


A Reaction

It would seem unlikely to be a matter of the 'number' of properties, and would have to involve some notion of what was essential to the prototype.

Related Idea

Idea 4141 Various games have a 'family resemblance', as their similarities overlap and criss-cross [Wittgenstein]