Which concept of concept for conceptual engineering?

Manuel Isaac

doi:10.1007/s10670-021-00447-0

Which concept of concept for conceptual engineering?

Manuel Isaac

Philosophy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Conceptual engineering is the method for assessing and improving our concepts. However, little has been written about how best to conceive of concepts for the purposes of conceptual engineering. In this paper, I aim to fill this foundational gap, proceeding in three main steps: First, I propose a methodological framework for evaluating the conduciveness of a given concept of concept for conceptual engineering. Then, I develop a typology that contrasts two competing concepts of concept that can be used in conceptual engineering—namely, the philosophical and psychological ones. Finally, I evaluate these two concepts of concept using the proposed methodological framework and I show that, when it comes to making conceptual engineering an actionable method, the psychological concept of concept outclasses its philosophical counterpart on all counts. This provides a baseline from which the concept of concept can be further improved for the purposes of conceptual engineering.

Original language	English
Number of pages	25
Journal	Erkenntnis
Volume	First Online
Early online date	17 Sept 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-021-00447-0
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 17 Sept 2021

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Cite this

@article{3a8c4fa6206d4ad7a899861056699702,

title = "Which concept of concept for conceptual engineering?",

abstract = "Conceptual engineering is the method for assessing and improving our concepts. However, little has been written about how best to conceive of concepts for the purposes of conceptual engineering. In this paper, I aim to fill this foundational gap, proceeding in three main steps: First, I propose a methodological framework for evaluating the conduciveness of a given concept of concept for conceptual engineering. Then, I develop a typology that contrasts two competing concepts of concept that can be used in conceptual engineering—namely, the philosophical and psychological ones. Finally, I evaluate these two concepts of concept using the proposed methodological framework and I show that, when it comes to making conceptual engineering an actionable method, the psychological concept of concept outclasses its philosophical counterpart on all counts. This provides a baseline from which the concept of concept can be further improved for the purposes of conceptual engineering.",

author = "Manuel Isaac",

note = "Research for this article was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, grant number P400PG_183807.",

year = "2021",

month = sep,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1007/s10670-021-00447-0",

language = "English",

volume = "First Online",

journal = "Erkenntnis",