The Conceptual Faculty

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William R Thomas explains why the capacity to form concepts is the essential feature of reason. He shows how concepts make possible our use of language, how concepts are formed, and they depend on our direct, sensory awareness of reality. He discusses the Objectivist answer to the philosophical problem of abstraction. And he argues that failure to appreciate the nature of concepts contributes to a common human failing, on that Ayn Rand called "the anti-conceptual mentality."

This is Lecture 2 in the online course "Reason." Reason presents the essentials of the Objectivist view of knowledge. It explains why reason is an absolute; why emotions are not tools of cognition, despite their psychological importance; and why mysticism is a cognitive dead-end. It presents Ayn Rand's innovative theory of concepts and objectivity, including the role of sense-perception, logic, and axioms, as well as the nature of certainty.  The course shows why a rational approach to life is a vital human need.

Atlas University: http://www.atlassociety.org/atlas-university

Reason course online: http://www.atlassociety.org/atlas-university-reason

YouTube url:	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j77k7PCEnA
Created:	18. 5. 2020 10:22:46

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The Conceptual Faculty