more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 12631

[filed under theme 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / g. Conceptual atomism ]

Full Idea

Atomism must be right about the individuation of concepts because compositionality demands it.

Clarification

'Compositionality' is building up thoughts from components

Gist of Idea

Compositionality requires that concepts be atomic

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch1)

Book Ref

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.20

A Reaction

I suppose this seems right, though Fodor's own example of 'pet fish' is interesting. What is supposed to happen when you take a concept like 'pet' and put it with 'fish', given that both components shift their atomic (?) meaning in the process?

The 4 ideas with the same theme [concepts are atomic, and have no internal structure]:

12131 All concepts can be derived from a few basics, making possible one science of everything [Carnap, by Brody]
12629 For the referential view of thought, the content of a concept is just its reference [Fodor]
12631 Compositionality requires that concepts be atomic [Fodor]
11139 Maybe concepts have no structure, and determined by relations to the world, not to other concepts [Margolis/Laurence]