Single Idea 12658

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 2. Origin of Concepts / a. Origin of concepts]

Full Idea

I don't know how concepts are acquired. Nor do you. Nor does anybody else.

Gist of Idea

Nobody knows how concepts are acquired

Source

Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.5.4)

Book Reference

Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.146


A Reaction

This comes in the context of quietly modifying his earlier claim that concepts weren't acquired, because they were largely innate. Presumably we are allowed to have theories of concept acquisition? I quite like abstractionism.