more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The classical view of concepts explains hierarchical order, where categories form nested sets. But research shows that categories are often not transitive. Research shows that a seat is furniture, and a car seat is a seat, but it is not furniture.
Gist of Idea
Classical concepts are transitive hierarchies, but actual categories may be intransitive
Source
Gregory L. Murphy (The Big Book of Concepts [2004], Ch. 2)
Book Ref
Murphy,Gregory L.: 'The Big Book of Concepts' [MIT 2004], p.27
A Reaction
[compressed] Murphy adds that the nesting of definitions is classically used to match the nesting of hierarchies. This is a nice example of the neatness of the analytic philosopher breaking down when it meets the mess of the world.