Is everything a concept?

cs23

Centripetal acceleration is a concept. Can we say calculators,t.v. remotes are also concepts.

OR only the intangible things are concepts (such as torque, centripetal acceleration)

ModusPwnd

I would say, with caution, yes. We are not privy to 'reality', only observations. We create concepts to rationalize our observations. In this sense, observations are the only 'thing' thats not a concept.

HallsofIvy

The idea of a "t.v. remote" (what Plato would have called an "ideal") is a concept. A specific t.v. remote in your hand or sitting beside you is not.

zoobyshoe

I just dropped a cup. That instance of centripetal acceleration was not conceptual. Correct?

Bobbywhy

cs23, I suggest you start with looking up the meaning of the word "concept" in the dictionary. Do not be satisfied with just one dictionary...check severarl different ones to get a good idea of the meaning of "concept". Then you can decide for yourself if something fits the definition or not.

Pythagorean

No. We use the word to refer to the event itself, even though it references a concept that is not necessarily the event; we just take for granted that it is. So one can study centripetal acceleration as a concept, but you can also actually experience it as a real event.

cs23

How do i know if something is a concept?

AlephZero

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson came up with a pretty good test: if you kick it and it hurts your toe, it's not a concept.

Jimmy Snyder

I kicked my wife and it hurt my nose. Is she a concept?

cs23

Nice, i get it. It's exactly what i was looking for