Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 89 |
| Journal | SYNTHESE |
| Volume | 201 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Feb 2023 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Concept formation has recently become a widely discussed topic in philosophy under the headings of “conceptual engineering”, “conceptual ethics”, and “ameliorative analysis”. Much of this work has been inspired either by the method of explication or by ameliorative projects. In the former case, concept formation is usually seen as a tool of the sciences, of formal disciplines, and of philosophy. In the latter case, concept formation is seen as a tool in the service of social progress. While recent philosophical discussions on concept formation have addressed natural sciences such as physics as well as various life sciences, so far there is only little direct engagement with the social sciences. To address this shortcoming is important because many debates about socially relevant concepts such as power, gender, democracy, risk, justice, or rationality, may best be understood as engaging in conceptual engineering. This topical collection addresses the nature and structure of concept formation in the natural, the life, and the social sciences alike, both as a process taking place within science and as an activity that aims at a broader impact in society. This helps to understand how concept formation proceeds not only in the natural sciences but also in disciplines such as psychology, cognitive science, political science, sociology and economics.
Keywords
- Concept formation, Conceptual engineering, Explication, Measurement, Social kinds
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities(all)
- Philosophy
- Social Sciences(all)
- General Social Sciences
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In: SYNTHESE, Vol. 201, No. 3, 89, 24.02.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial in journal › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Introduction to the topical Collection
T2 - Concept formation in the natural and social sciences: empirical and normative aspects
AU - Brun, Georg
AU - Herfeld, Catherine
AU - Reuter, Kevin
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
PY - 2023/2/24
Y1 - 2023/2/24
N2 - Concept formation has recently become a widely discussed topic in philosophy under the headings of “conceptual engineering”, “conceptual ethics”, and “ameliorative analysis”. Much of this work has been inspired either by the method of explication or by ameliorative projects. In the former case, concept formation is usually seen as a tool of the sciences, of formal disciplines, and of philosophy. In the latter case, concept formation is seen as a tool in the service of social progress. While recent philosophical discussions on concept formation have addressed natural sciences such as physics as well as various life sciences, so far there is only little direct engagement with the social sciences. To address this shortcoming is important because many debates about socially relevant concepts such as power, gender, democracy, risk, justice, or rationality, may best be understood as engaging in conceptual engineering. This topical collection addresses the nature and structure of concept formation in the natural, the life, and the social sciences alike, both as a process taking place within science and as an activity that aims at a broader impact in society. This helps to understand how concept formation proceeds not only in the natural sciences but also in disciplines such as psychology, cognitive science, political science, sociology and economics.
AB - Concept formation has recently become a widely discussed topic in philosophy under the headings of “conceptual engineering”, “conceptual ethics”, and “ameliorative analysis”. Much of this work has been inspired either by the method of explication or by ameliorative projects. In the former case, concept formation is usually seen as a tool of the sciences, of formal disciplines, and of philosophy. In the latter case, concept formation is seen as a tool in the service of social progress. While recent philosophical discussions on concept formation have addressed natural sciences such as physics as well as various life sciences, so far there is only little direct engagement with the social sciences. To address this shortcoming is important because many debates about socially relevant concepts such as power, gender, democracy, risk, justice, or rationality, may best be understood as engaging in conceptual engineering. This topical collection addresses the nature and structure of concept formation in the natural, the life, and the social sciences alike, both as a process taking place within science and as an activity that aims at a broader impact in society. This helps to understand how concept formation proceeds not only in the natural sciences but also in disciplines such as psychology, cognitive science, political science, sociology and economics.
KW - Concept formation
KW - Conceptual engineering
KW - Explication
KW - Measurement
KW - Social kinds
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148958359&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11229-023-04094-6
DO - 10.1007/s11229-023-04094-6
M3 - Editorial in journal
AN - SCOPUS:85148958359
VL - 201
JO - SYNTHESE
JF - SYNTHESE
SN - 0039-7857
IS - 3
M1 - 89
ER -