Exploitable isomorphism and structural representation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploitable isomorphism and structural representation

AU - Shea, Nicholas

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - An interesting feature of some sets of representations is that their structure mirrors the structure of the items they represent. Founding an account of representational content on isomorphism, homomorphism or structural resemblance has proven elusive, however, largely because these relations are too liberal when the candidate structure over representational vehicles is unconstrained. Furthermore, in many cases where there is a clear isomorphism, it is not relied on in the way the representations are used. That points to a potential resolution: that an isomorphism must be used, hence usable, if it is to be an ingredient in a theory of content. This paper argues that the class of exploitable isomorphisms can indeed play a content-constituting role.

AB - An interesting feature of some sets of representations is that their structure mirrors the structure of the items they represent. Founding an account of representational content on isomorphism, homomorphism or structural resemblance has proven elusive, however, largely because these relations are too liberal when the candidate structure over representational vehicles is unconstrained. Furthermore, in many cases where there is a clear isomorphism, it is not relied on in the way the representations are used. That points to a potential resolution: that an isomorphism must be used, hence usable, if it is to be an ingredient in a theory of content. This paper argues that the class of exploitable isomorphisms can indeed play a content-constituting role.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-9264.2014.00367.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-9264.2014.00367.x

M3 - Article

SN - 0066-7374

VL - 64

SP - 123

EP - 144

JO - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society

JF - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society

IS - 2

ER -