RCSaunders wrote: ↑Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:28 pm
The reason I think so, is because, "words," are only symbols, marks on paper or other material, sounds one makes, gestures or signs, or electronic states on magnetic material or some solid state material. On there own they have no use or function. A Symbol might be an interesting little picture or design, but it does not mean anything.
When a word is used in a language, it is used to indicate or identify something, some entity, for example, like a planet, a person, or an apple. What a word is used to indicate or identify is usually referred to as what the word means. When we use a word in language, it is not the words, the symbols themselves, that one discusses, but what the words mean. "Joe loves apples," does not mean, "the word, 'Joe,' has an affection for the word, 'apples.'" It is not, "symbols," one uses them to think about, it's what the symbols (words) mean one uses them to think about. It is what words mean that is meant by their, "conception," because without it, words have no meaning and are just empty marks, sounds, gestures, or signs.
So, for me, there must be a distinction between a mere word, as a symbol, and a word's meaning, as a concept--the identification of something. The word, "house," for example, has no meaning on it's own, and only has a meaning because it is used as a symbol for the identification of a specific kind of existent, which is the concept. It is not the symbol that has the meaning, it is the concept the symbol represents.
Though it is generally assumed word are defined, it is not actually words that are defined but the concepts words are only the symbols for. From my old essay, "
Epistemology, Concepts:"
For me, failing to make a distinction between words as symbols, and concepts (the meanings words are used as symbols for) leads to endless confusion (like logical positivism, or Kant's absurd assumption that words mean their definitions).
I'm only answering your question of why I regard concepts as important to understand epistemology. I'm not trying to convince you my view is right.
Thanks for showing your interest.