Summary |
Theory-based views of concepts claim that they are identified or intimately associated with miniature theories of how things in their target domain tend to function. These theories take the form of general causal-explanatory principles describing how the properties, objects, and events in the category hang together and how deeper or hidden properties produce and sustain observable ones. Such theories often focus on describing essential properties for category membership such as having the right internal organization or composition. These theories differ from full-blown scientific theories in being sketchy, limited in their explanatory and predictive scope, and potentially mistaken in certain details. |