Concept

Concept is a fundamental element in the fields of philosophy, psychology, linguistics and cognitive science. It refers to an abstract idea or a mental symbol that is typically associated with a corresponding representation in language or symbology.

Definition

In general, a concept is an abstract idea or general notion that represents something. It can be a class of objects, an attribute, a quality, or a relation. It is a mental construct that is part of our cognitive map which we use to understand and navigate the world.

Philosophy

In philosophy, a concept is a fundamental category of existence. It is a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form. Concepts are seen as abstract in that they omit the details of the things they represent.

Psychology

In psychology, a concept is a mental representation of a class or individual instances of an event, object, or process. Concepts are formed through the process of categorization and are used in cognitive processes such as memory, perception, and reasoning.

Linguistics

In linguistics, a concept is the meaning that is associated with a word or phrase. It is the mental representation of an object, event, or state of affairs that a speaker refers to.

Cognitive Science

In cognitive science, a concept is a mental representation that is used in thought processes. It is a unit of knowledge that is built from other units.

See Also

• Abstraction
• Cognitive Map
• Mental Representation
• Philosophy of Mind

Concept Resources
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