Reification: Difference between revisions

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Reification relates to concrete expressions of abstract ideas.
Reification relates to concrete expressions of abstract ideas.




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Perhaps the easiest example is creation and use of models, be it mental models or physical models.
Perhaps the easiest example is creation and use of models, be it mental models or physical models or statistical models.
 
The idea that your model is not only a description, but also probably correct ''enough'' to treat it as equivalent to the real thing.
 
 
The creation of the model in the first place, carries the implication it's how reality works, or close enough.
 
 
The act of taking an existing model and using it to work with something that has real-world effects,
carries the implication that only the part of reality that matches with this model will be reinforced.
 


The creation of the model in the first place,
and the act of taking an existing model and using it to work with something that has real-world effects,
carries the implication it's how reality works, or close enough.


Perhaps most of all the (often implied) claim or very-easy though that this is somehow more than just a ''description'',
that is probably correct ''enough'' for what you're using it for that we can treat it as equivalent to the real thing.


And yes, you can get abstract and associative and run full speed into the philosophical (or armchair philosophical).


You could argue that any belief is a reification of the idea it is based on.


And yes, you can get abstract and associative and vague and run full speed into the philosophical (or armchair philosophical),
Or even that any abstraction is such a belief.


You could argue that any belief is a reification of the idea it is based on.
It is made just concrete ''enough'' for people to handle it as real, regularly because of (potential) real-world implications.
It is made just concrete ''enough'' for people to handle it as real, regularly because of (potential) real-world implications.


Many social values are reifications of sorts (not in a negative way - there e.g. are demonstrable value you can put a name to ''because'' most of us value them).
Many social values arguably ''are'' reifications of sorts.  
And this can be useful because they are something put communicable value on.
(Particularly the section of ethics that deals with the "it is probably bad to" sort of statements)
 
 
One issue with that is that these are often simplifications, and when we
 
 
Say, "burning books is bad" is ''probably'' .
But that wasn't because books have feelings, or can't be reprinted.  
 
In fact
That was be
 
 
Nazi_book_burnings




Latest revision as of 14:10, 14 May 2024

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