Mental representation, conceptual spaces and metaphors

Synthese 106 (1996), pp. 21-47.

Abstract

The question in focus is: What is the form of mental representation? The sentential (symbolic) paradigm is criticized. As an alternative framework conceptual spaces are proposed which are based on topological and geometric structures rather than linguistic or logical. The theory of conceptual spaces is compared to the tensor network theory of Pellionisz and Llinas. The theory is applied to concept formation, in particular projectibility of concepts in inductive reasoning. Another application concerns the semantics of metaphors.

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