concept of family resemblance

Family resemblance is the idea that members of a group share overlapping features or traits, but not necessarily all the same ones. Think of it like members of a family who resemble each other in different ways—some share eye color, others share facial features, but no single feature is common to all. This concept helps explain how categories can be flexible; members are connected through a web of similarities rather than a strict set of defining characteristics. It emphasizes that category membership is based on overall resemblance, rather than a strict checklist of features.