Single Idea 12659

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / d. Concepts as prototypes]

Full Idea

We needn't say that learning a stereotype is just a by-product of acquiring the concept; it could rather be a stage in concept acquisition.

Gist of Idea

Maybe stereotypes are a stage in concept acquisition (rather than a by-product)

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.150


A Reaction

He rejects stereotypes because they don't give concepts the necessary compositionality in thought. But this idea would mean that children were incapable of compositionality until they had transcended the primitive stereotype stage.