Single Idea 8770

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 3. Abstracta by Ignoring]

Full Idea

I call 'abstractionism' the doctrine that a concept is acquired by a process of singling out in attention some one feature given in direct experience - abstracting it - and ignoring the other features simultaneously given - abstracting from them.

Gist of Idea

'Abstractionism' is acquiring a concept by picking out one experience amongst a group

Source

Peter Geach (Mental Acts: their content and their objects [1957], §6)

Book Reference

Geach,Peter: 'Mental Acts: Their content and their objects' [RKP 1971], p.18


A Reaction

Locke seems to be the best known ancestor of this view, and Geach launches a vigorous attack against it. However, contemporary philosophers still refer to the process, and I think Geach should be crushed and this theory revived.