The Conceptual Faculty

Man is the rational animal. Reason is our means of survival. And the essence of our ability to reason is our conceptual faculty.
 

In this webinar, William R Thomas discusses the Objectivist understanding of concepts and language. We see how our concepts relate to our direct, sensory awareness of reality. We consider how concepts make possible our use of words and language. Is language primarily for communication or for thinking? We consider the hierarchical nature of conceptual knowledge. And we diagnose a common human failing: the anti-conceptual mentality.
 

Format: Audio with slide show. 32 minutes lecture followed by 31 minutes of audio and text interactive question-and-answer discussion. 63 minutes total.