PSYB57H3 Lecture Notes - Exemplar Theory, Spreading Activation, Family Resemblance
Document Summary
Ludwig wittgenstein argues that the simple terms we use everyday don"t have definitions. Even simple terms, terms denoting concepts we use easily and often resist being defined. Probabilistic phrasing preserves what"s good about definitions they do dame sensible, relevant features, shared by more members of the category. This phrasing allows a degree of uncertainty, some number of expectation to the rule. Wittgenstein proposed that members of a category have a family resemblance to each other. There are probably no defining features for your family features that every family has. There are features that are common in the family and if we consider family members we can usually find some shared attributes. Identity of those common features depends on what subgroup of the family you"re considering i. e. hair colour. Each member of the family has at least some features in common with this ideal and some features in common with other family members.
