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Topic: abstraction by common attributes
topics >
classification
Topic:
elements
Topic:
inheritance of properties
Topic:
names as abbreviations for descriptions
Topic:
objects as a set of attributes
Topic:
problem of classifying information
Topic:
set definition by extension or intension
Topic:
taxonomy
Summary
Aristotle formed concepts from common attributes. This simplifies a description without losing essential details. The meaning then determines reference. If this were so, then a formalist approach could be successful. Two problems with this is that few concepts have a set of defining properties, and that attributes tend to miss the rich interconnections between our concepts. (cbb 4/93)
Subtopic: universal as shared attributes
Quote: thought processes abstract information to a skeleton of relevant features [»smitDC6_1975] Quote: abstraction selects certain details as important and ignores the rest [»borgA1_1985] Quote: an abstraction should conceal undesirable properties without hiding desirable ones Quote: a whole is one concept made of subparts with something in common; can be enumerated [»leibGW_1666] Quote: each attribute corresponds to an entity, F-ness, which characterizes an individual; e.g., wisdom and "Socrates is wise"; realist approach [»louxMJ_1970] Quote: 'something is B' is nothing other than B-ness itself; abstractions are attributes [»leibGW_1686]
Subtopic: prototype as shared attribute
Quote: things are one when they share the same definition; e.g., despite size differences [»aris_322a] Quote: abstraction avoids stating something more than once; recurring patterns are factored out [»maclBJ_1987] Quote: a general thing abstracts from an actual distribution; so the meaning of general things determines reference [»stawPF_1954] Quote: a universal is anything that is shared by many particulars [»russB_1912, OK] Quote: properties or universals are things that particulars have and can share with others; predicates similarly shared [»martAP_1990]
Subtopic: interconnections and universals better than attributes and instances
Quote: prototypical examples share attributes with other members of a category; strong correlation [»roscE10_1975] Quote: prototype as family resemblance of attributes within category and least overlap with other categories [»roscE10_1975] Quote: real-word attributes are interrelated; things are intrinsically separate [»roscE7_1976]
Subtopic: Plato's forms
Quote: a poor way to form concepts is through a list of characteristics; instead the elements of a definition are richly interconnected [»fregG_1884] Quote: consider universal concepts instead of instances of concepts; e.g., 'gold' as a concept is richer than 'metal', while metal covers more instances [»leibGW4_1679] Quote: the principles of eternal things are necessarily true; they explain the being of other things; e.g., fire is why things are hot [»aris_322a]
Quote: Plato thought it impossible to find a common definition for sensible things; they change too much Quote: Plato's forms explain visible things by inventing an equal number of other things [»aris_322a]
Topic: classification (65 items)
Topic: elements (22 items)
Topic: inheritance of properties (24 items)
Topic: names as abbreviations for descriptions (35 items)
Topic: objects as a set of attributes (39 items)
Topic: problem of classifying information (42 items)
Topic: set definition by extension or intension (18 items)
Topic: taxonomy
(16 items)