Conceptual Role Semantics

Conceptual Role Semantics is a way of understanding what a symbol or word means based on how it functions within a system of other symbols or concepts. Instead of tying a word’s meaning to an external object or true reference, it focuses on its role and relationships in a network of ideas, rules, or language. Think of it as defining meaning by how a word interacts with and depends on other words, rather than by pointing directly to something in reality. This approach emphasizes the interconnected nature of meaning within a language or thought system.