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Kant and abstractionism about concept formation
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Vanzo, Alberto (2017) Kant and abstractionism about concept formation. In: Di Bella, Stefano and Schmaltz, Tad M., (eds.) The Problem of Universals in Early Modern Philosophy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 305-323. ISBN 9780190608040
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Abstract
This chapter outlines Kant’s account of empirical concept formation and discusses two objections that have been advanced against it. Kant holds that we form empirical concepts, such as colour concepts, by comparing sensory representations of individuals, identifying shared features, and abstracting from the differences between them. According to the first objection, we cannot acquire colour concepts in this way because there is no feature that all and only the instances of a given colour share and the boundary between colours is conventional. According to the second objection, assuming that all instances of a given colour share certain features, we can identify them only if we already possess a concept of that colour. None of the two objections is convincing as it stands. Kant can offer replies to both objections that are consistent with his views and with empirical evidence concerning the perception and representation of colours.
Item Type: | Book Item | ||||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BD Speculative Philosophy B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Philosophy | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804, Abstraction, Concepts , Perception | ||||||
Publisher: | Oxford University Press | ||||||
Place of Publication: | New York, NY | ||||||
ISBN: | 9780190608040 | ||||||
Book Title: | The Problem of Universals in Early Modern Philosophy | ||||||
Editor: | Di Bella, Stefano and Schmaltz, Tad M. | ||||||
Official Date: | 7 September 2017 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Number of Pages: | 352 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 305-323 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 22 March 2017 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 7 September 2019 | ||||||
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