Toward an Ecological Theory of Concepts

TL;DR

This paper proposes an ecological, quantum-inspired framework for understanding concepts as dynamic, context-sensitive structures that bridge mind and world, emphasizing the relational and adaptable nature of conceptualization.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ecological approach to concepts, applying quantum formalism to model their relational and context-dependent properties.

Findings

Concepts are defined by relational structures and context susceptibility.

Quantum-inspired formalism captures the dynamic, context-sensitive nature of concepts.

The approach links perception, environment, and conceptualization in an ecological framework.

Abstract

Psychology has had difficulty accounting for the creative, context-sensitive manner in which concepts are used. We believe this stems from the view of concepts as identifiers rather than bridges between mind and world that participate in the generation of meaning. This paper summarizes the history and current status of concepts research, and provides a non-technical summary of work toward an ecological approach to concepts. We outline the rationale for applying generalizations of formalisms originally developed for use in quantum mechanics to the modeling of concepts, showing how it is because of the role of context that deep structural similarities exist between the two. A concept is defined not just in terms of exemplary states and their features or properties, but also by the relational structures of these properties, and their susceptibility to change under different contexts. The approach implies a view of mind in which the union of perception and environment drives conceptualization, forging a web of conceptual relations or 'ecology of mind'.