Single Idea 18597

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / e. Concepts from exemplars]

Full Idea

The exemplar paradigm of concepts is built around the idea that concepts are sets of exemplars. In turn, an exemplar is a body of knowledge about the properties believed to be possessed by a particular member of a class.

Gist of Idea

Concepts as exemplars are based on the knowledge of properties of each particular

Source

Edouard Machery (Doing Without Concepts [2009], 4.3.1)

Book Reference

Machery,Edouard: 'Doing Without Concepts' [OUP 2009], p.93


A Reaction

I like the fact that this theory is rooted in particulars, where the prototype theory doesn't seem to say much about how prototypes are derived. But you have to do more than just contemplate a bunch of exemplars.