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Single Idea 17971
[filed under theme 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / c. Classical concepts
]
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.
The
14 ideas
with the same theme
[concepts as necessary and sufficient conditions of groups]:
6985
|
Analysis is finding necessary and sufficient conditions by studying possible cases
[Jackson]
|
17706
|
The essence of a concept is either its definition or its conceptual relations?
[Mares]
|
17973
|
The theoretical and practical definitions for the classical view are very hard to find
[Murphy]
|
17969
|
The classical definitional approach cannot distinguish typical and atypical category members
[Murphy]
|
17970
|
Classical concepts follow classical logic, but concepts in real life don't work that way
[Murphy]
|
17971
|
Classical concepts are transitive hierarchies, but actual categories may be intransitive
[Murphy]
|
17972
|
The classical core is meant to be the real concept, but actually seems unimportant
[Murphy]
|
11128
|
Classically, concepts give necessary and sufficient conditions for falling under them
[Margolis/Laurence]
|
11130
|
Typicality challenges the classical view; we see better fruit-prototypes in apples than in plums
[Margolis/Laurence]
|
11129
|
The classical theory explains acquisition, categorization and reference
[Margolis/Laurence]
|
11131
|
It may be that our concepts (such as 'knowledge') have no definitional structure
[Margolis/Laurence]
|
18591
|
Classical theory can't explain facts like typical examples being categorised quicker
[Machery]
|
18590
|
Classical theory implies variety in processing times, but this does not generally occur
[Machery]
|
18583
|
Many categories don't seem to have a definition
[Machery]
|