Full Idea
Abstractions may be constructed by taking an exemplary case or instance and removing detail.
Gist of Idea
We can abstract by taking an exemplary case and ignoring the detail
Source
Machamer,P/Darden,L/Craver,C (Thinking About Mechanisms [2000], 5.3)
Book Reference
-: 'Philosophy of Science' [-], p.16
A Reaction
I love 'removing detail'. That's it. Simple. I think this process is the basis of our whole capacity to formulate abstract concepts. Forget Frege - he's just describing the results of the process. How do we decide what is 'detail'? Essentialism!