The role of similarity and reasoning in concepts

• Applicant: Dr. Corina Strößner
• Subject Area: Theoretical Philosophy ; General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 493620043

Currently, there are two main directions in the research of concepts and category formation: similarity-based approaches (e.g. conceptual spaces, prototype theory) and reasoning-based approaches (e.g. theory theory, Bayesian models of concepts). While the former base concepts on similarity, the latter view similarity rather as a result of conceptual learning than as its foundation. The aim of this project is to develop an integrative model of concepts that does justice to the explanations and results of both research directions. The central puzzle I address is thus: How can we, on the one hand, base concepts on similarity while also accounting for the fact that intuitions about similarity are based on reasoning with concepts? The project builds on the distinction between perceptual and conceptual similarity. It advances a model in which reasoning mediates between perceptual similarity and conceptual similarity. That is, inference-based models need to rely on models of perceptual similarity, and in doing so, they provide an important basis for explaining conceptual similarity. Both linkages, perceptual similarity as foundation of reasoning and reasoning as basis of conceptual similarity, will be investigated by integrating formal models of the respective approaches, that is, similarity spaces and Bayesian models of concepts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants