Conceptual analysis for representationalists

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    Abstract

    We use words to mark out patterns in nature. Th is is why a word like ‘nutritious’ is so useful. One way of thinking about conceptual analysis is as the business of capturing the structure in the patterns so picked out, for it is not credible that the patterns are one and all sui generis. Th is paper spells out this way of thinking about conceptual analysis. Along the way we discuss: the role of intuitions about possible cases with some reference to the experimental philosophy debate, why analyses are often hard to find, and whether conceptual analysis so conceived presupposes a controversial version of the description theory of reference.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNew perspectives on concepts (Vol 81- Grazer Philosophische Studien)
    EditorsJulia Langkau and Christian Nimtz
    Place of PublicationAmsterdam
    PublisherEditions Rodopi B.V.
    Pages173-188
    Volume1
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)9789042030183
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

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