Sortal concepts and causal continuity: comment of Rips, Blok, and Newman (2006). 2007

Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada. mijke@psych.ubc.ca

L. J. Rips, S. Blok, and G. Newman (2006) proposed that singular concepts, which support the tracing of individual objects across their existence, are governed by a principle of causal continuity. They purported to show that causal continuity is better than existing theories at explaining judgments of the persistence of individual objects. This article makes 3 points. First, the construct of causal connectedness entails a wide variety of different explanatory factors; calling them all causal has questionable explanatory value. There is little evidence that the ultimate basis for identity judgments in many cases is causal. Second, the authors suggest that causal knowledge is indeed important to identity, but that it is important in the context of sortal concepts; different causal information matters for different kinds of things. Finally, the authors consider whether causal knowledge or sortal concepts are more fundamental to tracing individual identity, that is, whether causal knowledge is necessary for identity judgments. The authors appeal to research in developmental psychology that has begun to address this debate, supporting the primacy of sortal concepts. Although there continues to be shortcomings of all theories of object persistence, it is not clear that the causal continuer theory brings new clarity to the puzzle.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007600 Judgment The process of discovering or asserting an objective or intrinsic relation between two objects or concepts; a faculty or power that enables a person to make judgments; the process of bringing to light and asserting the implicit meaning of a concept; a critical evaluation of a person or situation. Judgement,Judgements,Judgments
D008960 Models, Psychological Theoretical representations that simulate psychological processes and/or social processes. These include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Model, Mental,Model, Psychological,Models, Mental,Models, Psychologic,Psychological Models,Mental Model,Mental Models,Model, Psychologic,Psychologic Model,Psychologic Models,Psychological Model
D003071 Cognition Intellectual or mental process whereby an organism obtains knowledge. Cognitive Function,Cognitions,Cognitive Functions,Function, Cognitive,Functions, Cognitive
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012933 Social Identification The process by which an aspect of self image is developed based on in-group preference or ethnocentrism and a perception of belonging to a social or cultural group. (From APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 8th ed.) Group Identification,Identification, Social,Professional Identification,Professional Identity Formation,Social Identity,Formation, Professional Identity,Formations, Professional Identity,Group Identifications,Identification, Group,Identification, Professional,Identifications, Group,Identifications, Professional,Identifications, Social,Identities, Social,Identity Formation, Professional,Identity Formations, Professional,Identity, Social,Professional Identifications,Professional Identity Formations,Social Identifications,Social Identities

Related Publications

Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
September 2007, Trends in cognitive sciences,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
December 2015, Cognition,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
May 2013, Cognitive psychology,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
December 2006, Monaldi archives for chest disease = Archivio Monaldi per le malattie del torace,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
June 2012, Family practice,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
January 2007, British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing),
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
January 2006, Medicine, health care, and philosophy,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
January 2012, AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
September 2008, Injury,
Mijke Rhemtulla, and Fei Xu
September 1951, Der Nervenarzt,
Copied contents to your clipboard!