PAPER NO. 74

CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS

CONCEPTS

  1. In a concept the mind grasps the essence of a being or class of beings (or states, relations, activities, or properties of beings).
  2. The essence of a being or class of beings is the quality or set of qualities that all members have, that they always have, and that distinguishes them from all non-members.
  3. A concept is the first act of reason. All thinking beings as rational would have concepts.
  4. A concept is not an image or perception, which is an act of the senses.
  5. A concept is universal—it applies to all members of a class. An image is always particular, applying to one being only.
  6. A concept is universal—it is the same in all thinkers since it grasps the essence of a class of beings. An image differs in each perceiver.
  7. A concept is expressed by a word (or other conventional sign), e.g. man, red, happy, run, near. Words are taught; concepts cannot be taught, but are grasped. Words can be ambiguous; concepts are not ambiguous.
  8. A concept is not a feeling. It is not an association of an image and a sensation, e.g. of pain.
  9. A concept is not orderly behavior. It is not the same as instinct.
  10. There are many causes of orderly activities or events apart from concept or perception. Consider order in the amoeba, bee, bird, heart, and computer in relation to perception.

APPLICATIONS

  1. ‘Do animals think?’ is the same as ‘do animals have concepts?’ It is not the same as ‘do animal perceive?’ or ‘do animals behave orderly?’ or ‘do they have sensations or make associations?’

Argument:

If animals could think, we could communicate with them as with other human beings.

We cannot communicate with animals as with other human beings.

Therefore, animals do not think.

If animals could think, they would have the same concepts as any thinking being. The only difference would be one of language, such as the difference between French and Chinese.

  1. Is there an essential difference between humans and animals?
  2. What are the implications of essential difference or non-difference for theories of origin? Can humans evolve from animals if there is an essential difference between humans and animals?
  3. What are the implications of essential difference or non-difference for rights and dignity?

This paper was originally developed for an Introduction to Philosophy course.


© 1992 Logos Papers Press