Single Idea 18602

[catalogued under 7. Existence / E. Categories / 2. Categorisation]

Full Idea

A to-be-classified object is considered a category member to the extent that its features were likely to have been generated by the category's causal laws.

Gist of Idea

A thing is classified if its features are likely to be generated by that category's causal laws

Source

Edouard Machery (Doing Without Concepts [2009], 4.4.4)

Book Reference

Machery,Edouard: 'Doing Without Concepts' [OUP 2009], p.106


A Reaction

[from Bob Rehder, psychologist, 2003] This is an account of categorisation which arises from the Theory Theory view of concepts, of which I am a fan. I love this idea, which slots neatly into the account I have been defending. Locke would like this.