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Single Idea 24473

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 1. Concepts / a. Nature of concepts]

Full Idea

Because our conceptual systems are mostly unconscious and neurally fixed, conceptual change is at best slow and difficult; we cannot freely change our conceptual systems by fiat.

Gist of Idea

Our conceptual systems are mostly unconscious, and thus hard to change

Source

G Lakoff / M Johnson (Philosophy in the Flesh [1999], 25 'Limited')

A Reaction

I agree. I see this as based on the fact that nearly all of our important concepts are unthinking responses to lived experience, rather than being deliberate constructions. The deliberate concepts often produce trouble in philosophy.

Book Reference

Lakoff,G/Johnson,M: 'Philosophy in the Flesh' [Basic Books 1999], p.556