On Peacocke's Theory Of Concept Possession

After Kant,concepts have pride-of-place in epistemology,semantics,and the philosophy of mind:they function as rules of organizing perceptions,as the primary objects of rational analysis,as singular or general propositional terms,and as the basic constituents of beliefs.Yet concepts have received little sustained attention from contemporary philosophers of language and mind.Peacocke's study of concepts addresses this oversight.He pulls back philosophers' attention to concepts and the problem of theory of concept has become one of the core issues which the contemporary cognitive science,philosophy of language,cognitive psychology common concern.Peacocke's special route into the theory of concepts is the analysis of "concept-possession".His theory of concept-possession has become one of the two current popular theories about the nature of concepts.He may be face difficulties on identification of concepts and individuating of concepts,but his special routes and methods on theoretical research of concepts provide a new angle for us and have important significance for the development of philosophy of language and mind.This paper is mainly about "concept-possession" to describe Peacocke's theory of concepts,for which we can have comprehensive and profound grasp.His theory can promote the development of theory of concepts in the philosophy of language,philosophy of mind,cognitive psychology and other aspects.The introduction mainly states Peacocke's life,as well as the domestic and foreign research status of his theory of concept possession.This paper consists of four parts:The first part mainly discusses the formation of Peacocke's theory of concept possession,from the history of philosophy about concepts and several modern representative conceptualism.To discuss the evolution of concept in the history of philosophy and the path in the contemporary development,it explains Peacocke's understanding of "concept-possession".The second part and third part are the main body of this article.These two parts focus on the main contents of concept possession and applications.Individuating concepts,perceptual concepts and the concept of belief are unique described in his theory.He also applies his theory of concept possession to solve the two general problems which the theory of concepts faces.The fourth part briefly introduces the philosophical significance of concept possession and dilemma in the aspects of identity and individual about concepts.