Conceptualism (Noun)
Meaning
The doctrine that the application of a general term to various objects indicates the existence of a mental entity that mediates the application.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Conceptualism suggests that our perception of colors is formed by mental abstractions rather than objective properties of physical objects.
- The medieval philosopher Peter Abelard was an influential advocate for conceptualism in his theories of language and reality.
- In this sense, conceptualism can be seen as a challenge to direct realism, emphasizing the role of mental concepts in our perception of the world.
- Conceptualism also finds application in discussions of meaning in language, where it suggests that the meaning of words is grounded in mental concepts rather than reference to external objects.
- The conceptualism school of thought intersects with the study of cognitive science in understanding the role of mental frameworks in categorizing objects and events.