Conceptual Form - by Sandeep Prasada (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Conceptual Form, Sandeep Prasada develops a new and original approach to the study of commonsense concepts. He argues that lexically expressible concepts such as DOG possess a formal structure--a conceptual form--which provides perspectives for thinking, talking, and reasoning. These perspectives are not a property of the things the concept represents. Rather, they are "mental lenses," or ways of thinking and talking. The conceptual form functions as a mental lens by providing instructions for how to think and talk about what the concept represents.

The book is unique in its focus on the formal dimension of commonsense concepts, its original proposal for how the type-token distinction is realized within our conceptual systems, its proposal that the core of concepts involves the acquisition of principles, not facts and generalizations, and its detailed consideration of linguistic and experimental data in the formulation of the theory of conceptual form. Finally, this book provides a new perspective on classic questions concerning the atomicity and innateness of concepts. Even those who disagree with specific claims are likely to find the theoretical tools and distinctions introduced by the theory of conceptual form to be valuable in their investigation of concepts.

Review Quotes

"Conceptual Form is a major contribution to the study of concepts, revealing how everyday concepts possess intricate formal structure that previous theorizing has systematically overlooked. Prasada's account makes explicit the fundamental metaphysical assumptions inherent in the human conceptual system. This groundbreaking work is essential reading for anyone interested in concepts, language, or distinctively human forms of thought."
--Eric Margolis, Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia

"Concepts expressed in language lie at the heart of what makes us human, with profound implications for how we think, how knowledge systems are acquired, and how we transmit hard-won wisdom as well as social prejudices. In Conceptual Form, Sandeep Prasada combines psychological, linguistic, and philosophical insights in a highly original and important theory of 'conceptual forms'. This book is a must-read for cognitive scientists with interests in language and the human mind."
--Susan A. Gelman, Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, University of Michigan

"Sandeep Prasada's theory of conceptual form as a 'mental lens' is a remarkable scientific accomplishment and represents cognitive science at its best. This original approach to commonsense concepts is theoretically deep, providing insightful evidence and subtle predictions. The mechanism of conceptual forms provides an innovative way to go beyond existing ideas about conceptual content. The book is essential reading for the concepts crowd in cognitive psychology, philosophy, and linguistics."
--David Poeppel, Professor of Psychology and Neural Science, New York University

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