Konzeptuelle Räume

Peter Gärdenfors

Kognitionswissenschaft, Band 4, Heft 4, 185-189.

Abstract

The dominating models of cognitive processes have been based on symbolic representations of information and knowledge. However, it has become clear that most cognitive phenomena in humans and animals are based on non-symbolic representations.

In this article, conceptual spaces are suggested as an appropriate framework for mental models. Conceptual spaces consist of a number of 'quality dimensions' which are often derived from perceptual mechanisms. It is outlined how conceptual spaces can represent various kind of information and how they can be used to describe concept formation. A 'geometric' model of concept formation is proposed and its relation to prototype theory is discussed.

The paper is available in PostScript format (get).

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