Abstraction Pgs 49-58 Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the contradiction in abstraction?
While abstraction simplifies complex things by focusing on general ideas, it can also make it harder to understand the original, detailed reality it came from.
How is concrete experience made meaningful?
Concrete experience gains meaning through abstraction, as language, law, social norms, and ideologies provide frameworks for interacting with concrete objects.
How does Althusser view abstraction in everyday life?
Abstraction is not limited to specialized fields; even simple statements, like a farmer saying “the cow died,” involve abstract concepts embedded in language.
What are the two types of “concrete” mentioned in the text?
The two types of concrete are raw, unmediated experience(an experience with no interference from the outside) and socially constructed concrete, shaped by abstract frameworks.
What role does language play in abstraction?
Language is the primary vehicle of abstraction, establishing systems of differences and relations that help us categorize and communicate about the world.
How is abstraction described as a cycle?
The cycle involves concrete experience leading to abstract concepts, which in turn shape our understanding and interaction with the concrete.
What does Saussure’s linguistic theory emphasize about signs?
Saussure’s theory highlights the arbitrary nature of the relationship between words (signifiers) and their meanings (signifieds), allowing language to create shared meaning.
Can you give examples of abstraction discussed in the text?
Examples include language, law, a painter’s creations, a worker’s gestures shaped by production relations, and romantic expressions influenced by cultural ideologies.
What does the quote about abstraction state?
“Abstraction is not detachment of a part belonging to the concrete whole…yet the peculiarity of abstraction is to be something other than part of the concrete.”
What conclusion does the excerpt draw about abstraction?
It argues for the essential role of abstraction in human experience, challenging the view of it as detached and highlighting its connection to concrete reality.
What is abstraction?
Abstraction is the process of detaching a part of reality from the whole, or creating a concept or idea that represents a generalized aspect of reality.
What is a chimera in the context of abstraction?
A chimera is a mythical creature composed of parts from different animals, used metaphorically to represent an abstract concept created by combining elements of reality.
Define “concrete.”
Concrete refers to the tangible, material world and the specific, individual objects and experiences within it.
What does “arbitrary sign” mean in Saussure’s theory?
It refers to the idea that the relationship between a word (signifier) and its meaning (signified) is based on convention, not any natural connection.
Explain the phonological system.
The phonological system is the arrangement of sounds in a language and the rules governing their combination.
What is social appropriation?
Social appropriation is the process by which individuals or groups claim ownership or control over resources or aspects of reality through language, law, and social norms.
What does the term “dialectical” signify?
Dialectical refers to a philosophical approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness and interplay of opposing forces or ideas.
Define “practical ideology.”
Practical ideology is a set of ideas and beliefs that shape our understanding and actions in the world, often operating unconsciously.
What is the common sense reaction to abstraction?
The common sense reaction is to view abstraction as unreal and divorced from concrete reality, which the author rejects, emphasizing its connection to the concrete.
How does the butcher example illustrate abstraction?
The butcher’s act of cutting meat shows that while parts may be separated, they remain concrete entities, highlighting that abstraction involves active, creative, and relational aspects.
What is the significance of the chimera example?
The chimera illustrates how abstraction can generate new concepts by creatively combining elements of reality, enriching our understanding without departing from it.
What is Saussure’s main argument about words and meanings?
Saussure argues that the relationship between words and their meanings is arbitrary and established through convention within a specific language system.
How does “the cow died” demonstrate the interplay of concrete and abstract?
It shows how abstract language can refer to a specific, concrete thing, emphasizing the link between abstract ideas and real-world objects in communication.
What does Hegel’s thought experiment reveal?
It reveals that even the most immediate designation of a concrete object relies on abstract language, emphasizing the inherent abstractness of language.
