Conceptual Form
The Hidden Structure of Commonsense Concepts
$116.02
- Paperback
326 pages
- Release Date
22 September 2026
Summary
A theory of the formal structure of commonsense concepts.
In Conceptual Form, Sandeep Prasada develops a new and original approach to the study of commonsense concepts. He argues that lexically expressible concepts such as DOG possess a formal structure—a conceptual form—which provides perspectives for thinking, talking, and reasoning. These perspectives are not a property of the things the concept represents. Rather, they are “mental lenses,” or ways of thinking and talking.…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780262053136 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0262053136 |
| Author: | Sandeep Prasada |
| Publisher: | MIT Press Ltd |
| Imprint: | MIT Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 326 |
| Release Date: | 22 September 2026 |
| Weight: | 369g |
| Dimensions: | 152mm x 229mm |
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Critics Review
ENDORSEMENTS
“Conceptual Form is a major contribution to the study of concepts, revealing how everyday concepts possess intricate formal structure that previous theorizing has systematically overlooked. Prasada’s account makes explicit the fundamental metaphysical assumptions inherent in the human conceptual system. This groundbreaking work is essential reading for anyone interested in concepts, language, or distinctively human forms of thought.”
—Eric Margolis, Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia
“Concepts expressed in language lie at the heart of what makes us human, with profound implications for how we think, how knowledge systems are acquired, and how we transmit hard-won wisdom as well as social prejudices. In Conceptual Form, Sandeep Prasada combines psychological, linguistic, and philosophical insights in a highly original and important theory of ‘conceptual forms’. This book is a must-read for cognitive scientists with interests in language and the human mind.”
—Susan A. Gelman, Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, University of Michigan
“Sandeep Prasada’s theory of conceptual form as a ‘mental lens’ is a remarkable scientific accomplishment and represents cognitive science at its best. This original approach to commonsense concepts is theoretically deep, providing insightful evidence and subtle predictions. The mechanism of conceptual forms provides an innovative way to go beyond existing ideas about conceptual content. The book is essential reading for the concepts crowd in cognitive psychology, philosophy, and linguistics.”
—David Poeppel, Professor of Psychology and Neural Science, New York University
Sandeep Prasada
Sandeep Prasada has been a professor at Hunter College, City University of New York, since 2002. He has published in Cognition, Cognitive Science, Trends in Cognitive Science, Cognitive Development, Developmental Science, and Journal of Child Language.
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