Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn sum, this is the first book-length treatment of specifically abstract embodied concepts and an invaluable resource for a wide range of audiences: philosophers, psychologists, linguists, neuroscientists, and lay people interested in concepts. Dove's extensive empirical overviews that underpin his proposals are a rich synthesis of the state of the art in the different research strands and he discusses a wide range of available theories. * Christian Michel, Philosophical Psychology *
Drawing on both classic and current research in linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, Guy Dove not only identifies the pros and cons of numerous positions on numerous issues involving the mental and neural representation of abstract concepts, but also builds a novel, multidimensional, and compelling framework that will provide much-needed guidance for this rapidly accelerating field of study. * David L. Kemmerer, Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, Purdue University *
The challenges posed by abstract concepts have never been so forcefully articulated. Drawing on the latest findings in multiple fields, Dove crafts a lens through which the path forward becomes gleamingly clear. Essential reading for anyone interested in the building blocks of thought. * Jesse Prinz, Distinguished Professor of philosophy, City University of New York, Graduate Center *
A wonderful book, a must-read for people interested in abstract concepts, but more generally in how we think and speak. It is written compellingly, has a very clear structure, and is a pleasure to read. Guy Dove highlights our conceptual system's elasticity, multimodality, and contextual dependency. Concepts rely on experience, as grounded approaches posit. However, the time has come to stretch grounded approaches, showing that concepts reuse experience but in a flexible way and underlining the role of language in enhancing cognition. This book opens new exciting research avenues and reminds us of the limits of dichotomic thinking about language, concepts, and knowledge. * Anna Borghi, Associate Professor of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome *
It will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in linguistics, philosophy, neuroscience, and cognitive science. * Choice *
