Sensations lead to perception. We simply perceive too many objects to remember every individual thing. We mitigate this problem through conceptualizing our perceptions. What is a concept? A concept is cognitive unit of meaning—a symbol that refers to objects in reality. Humans can form concepts because we can recognize similarities and differences among objects in reality. We summarize these similarities or differences through a process of abstraction.
Let me give a few examples of concepts and concept-formation.
The color green: Green is a concept. Green does not exist by itself just floating somewhere in reality. There is no “green” that one can point to. But we can see a green mango, a green car, and a green turtle. These each have the property green. Green does not exist apart from green objects.
Colors: We can also create concepts of concepts. Once we understand the concept green and the concept yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue. We conceptualize these concepts into a higher concept called “color.”
Properties: A property is an even higher concept. It is a concept that can group color, shape, mass etc.
Humans: When we see a particular human that we have never seen before, we don’t think, “Whoa, I have never seen this before; I have no idea how to interact with it.” Instead we automatically create the concept “human” through our past experiences with other humans and we then know how to interact with new “humans” that we have never seen before. Now the word “human” does not refer to any one thing in reality. There is no one “human” that we can point to. Instead “human” is a concept that refers to any object that shares certain similarities among other concepts such as arms, language, body odor, etc.
From these examples, we see that the human mind can create more concepts than objects in reality. Concepts can refer to reality. But the farther the concepts move away from reality, the more likely people will be confused. We must be vigilant in making sure that (1) concepts accurately reflect reality and that (2) our concepts are properly integrated with all other concepts to avoid contradictions.
An axiom is a foundational proposition that cannot be proved but can be validated. Propositions are axioms when one must assume the proposition when trying to deny it. Conceptualization is an axiom because one must use it in order to try and deny it. Likewise the validity of the senses are axiomatic because (1) the senses lead to concepts and (2) one must use concepts to attempt to reject the senses.
at 1:01 am
I think the problems starts when people don’t conceptualize a given set of objects the same way. e.g. for objects: Electromagnetism, gravity, and Strong interaction — different groups will conceptualize these differently. For Physicists they are “fundamental interactions of nature” for the average layperson, they are Things I don’t understand, but make technology work” and for primitive tribes, they may be “forms of magic” or simply inconceivable. Similarly, to a colorblind man, “green” and “red” may be the same concept.
Many factors contribute to the differing concepts: education, experience, culture, and language among them. (is there a Tongan word for “snow?”). and you are correct that the farther concepts move away form reality the greater the chances of confusion. I think also the farther they move away from tangible physical objects the greater the chances of confusion. An American will readily categorize “life”, “liberty”, “pursuit of happiness” as “fundamental, God-given rights.” others from other culture may not see any commonality.
Great post.
at 1:33 am
Great comment. I actually plan to build on your points in future posts.
I have to establish some other things first before I can make that jump though.
If you haven’t noticed, every post since the beginning of this blog has built on previous posts. It has been completely systematic. I haven’t added any advanced concepts without establishing more basic concepts first. I plan to continue this trend so that every post will be as integrated as possible.
I have to finish expounding on epistemology before I can get to ethics. And I must lay out my ethics before I develop my philosophies on politics and art. I will be writing about epistemology (and some more metaphysics) for at least another month or so. By the time I get to politics I will have the tools to build on your comment.