The cognitive role of concept variability

I present and defend concept variability , the view that concepts can admit of indefinitely many variations and changes in their representational contents without thereby losing their identity. I argue that the variability of concepts is central to their role in enabling cognition, and thus that a concept's content variability is, despite philosophical orthodoxy to the contrary, a feature of our cognitive architecture and not a bug.

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Publication Details

Journal
Mind & Language
Published
2025-06-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/mila.12546
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Child and Animal Learning Development
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.44
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article

The cognitive role of concept variability

Alnica Visser
1 citations
Mind & Language
Child and Animal Learning Development
3.44
article

The cognitive role of concept variability

Alnica Visser
article en
1 citations

Abstract

I present and defend concept variability , the view that concepts can admit of indefinitely many variations and changes in their representational contents without thereby losing their identity. I argue that the variability of concepts is central to their role in enabling cognition, and thus that a concept's content variability is, despite philosophical orthodoxy to the contrary, a feature of our cognitive architecture and not a bug.

Mind & LanguageVol. 41(1)
Texas Christian University (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Child and Animal Learning Development
3.44
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The cognitive role of concept variability — Alnica Visser · Mind & Language (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS