Conceptual change and conceptual engineering: the case of colour concepts

Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 64 (1-2):168-185 (2021)
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Abstract

I analyse conceptual change and conceptual engineering in the special case of colour concepts. The case raises the prospects of conceptual engineering because a precise standard for measuring the amelioration of the structure of concepts is available. On the other hand, the study highlights the problems with controlling conceptual engineering pointed out by Cappelen. I argue that in the case of conceptual change of colour concepts varying degrees of optimization, design and control are possible. I submit that this observation can be generalized to other classes of concepts. As a result, the scope of conceptual engineering is reduced considerably; conceptual engineering appears as a limit case of conceptual change.

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Lieven Decock
VU University Amsterdam