Single Idea 16524

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 2. Realism]

Full Idea

What Conceptualism entails is that, although horses and stars are not inventions or artefacts, in order to single out these things we must deploy a conceptual scheme which has been formed in such a way as to make singling them out possible.

Gist of Idea

Conceptualism says we must use our individuating concepts to grasp reality

Source

David Wiggins (Sameness and Substance [1980], 5.5)

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance' [Blackwell 1980], p.139


A Reaction

I don't quite see why the 'singling out' role of the concepts is the only one that generates them, or makes them fit for purpose. In general, of course, our conceptual scheme is necessarily a response to our experience of the world.