more from Jerry A. Fodor

Single Idea 12657

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 2. Abstracta by Selection]

Full Idea

In the idea of learning concepts by 'abstraction', experiences of the instances provide evidence about which of the shared properties of things in a concept's extension are 'criterial' for being in the concept's extension.

Gist of Idea

Abstractionism claims that instances provide criteria for what is shared

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.5.2 n6)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.135


A Reaction

Fodor is fairly sceptical of this approach, and his doubts are seen in the scare-quotes around 'criterial'. He is defending the idea that only a certain degree of innateness in the concepts can get such a procedure off the ground.