The campaign for concepts

Publication Year
2011

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

In his book Doing Without Concepts, Edouard Machery argues that cognitive scientists should reject the concept of “concept” as a natural, psychological kind. I review and critique several of Machery’s arguments, focusing on his definition of “concept” and on claims against the possibility and utility of a unified account of concepts. In particular, I suggest ways in which prototype, exemplar, and theory-theory approaches to concepts might be integrated.

Journal
Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review
Volume
50
Issue
1
Pages
165–177
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