Image for George Bealer's Theory of Conceptualism

George Bealer's Theory of Conceptualism

George Bealer's Theory of Conceptualism suggests that our concepts—like "truth" or "justice"—are neither purely mental images nor fully objective entities. Instead, they exist as shared mental "frameworks" rooted in our cognitive abilities and social practices. These concepts are real in that they are part of our collective understanding and reasoning, but they are also dependent on human minds and language. Essentially, Bealer's theory sees concepts as real, psychological tools that are shaped by both individual thought and social interaction, bridging the gap between purely mental ideas and external, independent entities.