Single Idea 18689

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / f. Theory theory of concepts]

Full Idea

People tend to positively categorise items that are consistent with their knowledge and to exclude items that are inconsistent, sometimes even overruling purely empirical sources of information.

Gist of Idea

People categorise things consistent with their knowledge, even rejecting some good evidence

Source

Gregory L. Murphy (The Big Book of Concepts [2004], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

Murphy,Gregory L.: 'The Big Book of Concepts' [MIT 2004], p.173


A Reaction

The main rival to 'theory theory' is the purely empirical account of how concepts are acquired. This idea reports empirical research in favour of the theory theory (or 'knowledge') approach.