The Term of Conceptualization - Assignment Example

Conceptual Analysis THE LIMITS OF CONCEPTUALIZATION (Sowa) Conceptualization can be primarily defined as inventing or contriving an idea or explanation and formulating it mentally. Also, it can be defined as an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instance of perception. The definitions capture the difficulties that arise out of conceptualization; the possibility that two different parties may interpret the same information differently based on their perception and mindset. To ensure that there is an established framework for analyzing data and information there is need for limitations on generalization of conceptualization. In this case the limits will offer a rational framework within which ideas and concepts can be understood. In coming up with such limitations academicians in various fields such as lexicographers, lawyers, system analysts and philosophers analyses concepts to draw up distinctions and give meaning to abstract objects and words in a bid to ensure that a common ground for interpretation is reached. In doing this, they define constraints, consistency checks and implications that must be enforced to keep the database an accurate reflection of the state of the world the result of which is a formalizable catalog of concepts, relations facts and principles that makes up the world , how its put together and how it works. (Sowa, 1984). In this regard, concepts can be defined as a general idea derived from particular instances that is, the concept is described within the confines of the context and situation in which it is devised.The sub concept is a secondary concept that is derived from the already formulated concepts. The derivation of concepts and subconcepts then demand that ideas and information be interpreted differently depending on the situations at hand and this calls for frameworks within which unifying concepts can be defined. Without such frameworks there would be a misuse of conceptualization where individuals would disagree on even obvious matters. An accused in the court of law would claim that he believes that killing is good and justifiable, people would not agree on such basic things as the colour of the traffic lights or the interpretation of basic texts. It’s for this reason that database administrators carry out conceptual analysis in designing a database to ensure that the resulting database does not contain arbitrary restrictions or even inconsistent data. In doing this they eliminate the vague boundaries of natural concepts and replace them with sharp and more precise distinctions. In the end it is true to say conceptual analysis clarifies muddled thinking and makes ideas more precise (Sowa, 1984). A problem in conceptual analysis that arises is that while there are more permanent attributes some comparative terms change with time and calls for adjustments. 2. CONCEPTUALIZING WHAT WE SEE (Hall) Sean hall in his book This Means This, This Means That: A Users Guide to Semiotics raises the important question of whether people draw the same message from what they see from road signs to warning signs to symbols buried in art. Hall proposes that even in the simplest and most basic of symbols and objects there arises non trivial questions. For instance, he uses an image of a large red rectangle to evaluate if the readers view the image in a similar way. This raises significant concerns such as how an individual who has never seen the color red will interpret and describe the rectangle and the color to someone else. Even amongst those who have seen the color, questions still arise as to what the color red portends or the degree of redness. One would describe the red as deep red’, another person may describe it as ‘fire engine red’ and yet another one as ‘passionate red’. Such descriptions he suggested are derived from the concepts with which he associates such color. For example, one who associates red with fire may describe it as a fire engine red while another who associates red with red painted lips may describe it as a passionate red. When five stars are put in two groups such that in one group there are two red stars and one black and in the other group there are two stars with one painted red and the other black one may ask that you identify one group of three stars and another of two stars. Thus, a question comes up whether the three stars painted red can form one group and the other two to form another group or the three stars be considered one group even though they are different in their color (Hall, 2012). In the end it becomes clear that pictorial images are not universal and cannot be relied upon in developing a universally understandable language given the subjectiveness with which the messages are interpreted. 3. WHAT IS WHAT?--CONCEPTUALLY SPEAKING (Arieti) The term endocept was coined by Arieti in 1976 to refer to the non-verbalized and non-expressed emotion. Such unexpressed emotions can affect the way one interprets stimuli in the environment and situations generally by drawing from inner recalls of past happenings. Mental models refer to an individual’s thought processes. It offers an explanation on how and individual perceives information in his surroundings, make meaning of them and react to them. In other words they are psychological representations of real, hypothetical, or imaginary situations. First introduced by American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, the concept of mental model proposes that the thought processes are characterized by humans examining the state of objects and affairs within their locality, forming a mental picture of the situation perceiving the parts not explicitly stated and convincing oneself that the perceived parts would always exist. According to this theory, every day reasoning depends on the environment in which one subsists and the perception of it. The two concepts help us explain how people take cognition and develop concepts in their surroundings. In this regard concept is described as a general notion that embraces all the attributes common to the individual members making up a given class. In forming concepts, the class of individuals create an association between the object and the perception about it such that the individuals are in agreement that a spoon is what we know it is. However it is worthwhile to note that even the apparently distinctive concepts have abstract attributes that can be added to them over time for instance Saturday generally means the day between Friday and Sunday but to one who has added a preconceived notion about the day it will have additional meanings. To the Jews who do no work on the Sabbath and generally considers Saturday as a day of rest, when one says it’s a Saturday it means more than just a day. It could mean resting to them, having communion with God and punishment for failure to observe the day with reverence. In some instances words may also acquire special meanings due to the unicity of the situation. 0 and 1 may appear to be definitely numbers but to programmers the digits mean more than just numbers but also binary codes and electric signals. On another front it is noteworthy that concepts also have emotional implication and emotions aid in developing concepts. Arieti postulates that in the course of growing the connection between ones conceptual processes and emotions strengthens and become intimately connected forming a circular process. Emotions then stimulate man not only toward action but also toward further cognition hence man is exposed to an unending cognition of possibilities and motivated to greater ideals (Arieti, 1976). References Arieti, S. (1976). Creativity: The magic synthesis. Hall, S. (2012). This means this, this means that: a users guide to semiotics (p. 176). Laurence King Publishing. Sowa, J. F. (1984). Conceptual structures in mind and machines. Read More