Single Idea 18600

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

Full Idea

According to theory theorists, a concept of a category stores some knowledge that can explain the properties of the category members.

Gist of Idea

Theory Theory says category concepts are knowledge stores explaining membership

Source

Edouard Machery (Doing Without Concepts [2009], 4.4.1)

Book Reference

Machery,Edouard: 'Doing Without Concepts' [OUP 2009], p.101


A Reaction

This is the account of essentialism which I defended in my PhD thesis. So naturally I embrace a theory of the nature of concepts which precisely dovetails with my view. I take explanation to be the central concept in metaphysics.