Is Language Necessary for Acquiring Conceptual Capabilities

Bibliographic Data

ID22329680
AuthorsErik Nelson (0000-0002-3228-1164, York University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume58
Issue172
Pages15-44
Publication date2026-05-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-1503 • E-ISSN: 1870-4905
PublisherUniversidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (PUBLISHER • MX)
DOI10.22201/iifs.18704905e.2026.1782
OpenAlexW7160921752
LanguageEN
References cited55

Normative conceptual holists have argued that conceptual capabilities can only be acquired through language. The a priori nature of their argument means that, if it is correct, not only is it a mistake for scientists to attribute conceptual capabilities to nonlinguistic animals, but also a mistake to think that empirical results have any bearing on such a claim. I argue that the absurd conclusion that concept acquisition is impossible can be derived from the claims that motivate this argument. Normative conceptual holists can avoid this result, but only by giving up the claim that linguistic and conceptual capabilities are necessarily linked. It follows that it is an open and empirical question whether nonlinguistic animals have conceptual capabilities

A priori and a posteriori · Conceptual framework · Conceptual history · Conceptual model · Conceptual system · Mistake · Normative · Categorization, perception, and language · Child and Animal Learning Development · Philosophy and Theoretical Science

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