Concepts: Core Readings

(Paperback)

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Traces the development of one of the most active areas of investigation in cognitive science. This volume brings together the background readings from philosophy, psychology and linguistics, while providing a broad sampling of contemporary research. The first part of the book centres around the fall of the classical theory of concepts in the face of attacks by W.V.O. Quine, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Eleanor Rosch and others, emphasizing the emergence and development of the prototype theory and the controversies it spurred. The second part surveys a range of contemporary theories - neoclassical theories, the prototype theory, the theory-theory and conceptual atomism.

Reviews

"This volume has all the great papers on concepts, with invaluablecommentary by the editors. The profound and fascinating essays in thecollection are indispensable for anyone interested in the human mind." Steven Pinker, Professor and Director, Center for CognitiveNeuroscience, MIT, and author of The Language Instinct and How the Mind Works

Author Bio

Eric Margolis is Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. Margolis and Laurence are coeditors of Concepts- Core Readings (MIT Press). Stephen Laurence is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. Margolis and Laurence are coeditors of Concepts- Core Readings (MIT Press).