FAMILY RESEMBLANCE Meaning and
Definition
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Family resemblance is a concept rooted in philosophy, particularly associated with the German philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. It describes a phenomenon where a group of objects or ideas share certain characteristics or attributes that are similar, but no single feature or characteristic is common to all of them. In essence, family resemblance suggests that members of a group may exhibit similarities but lack a defining trait that encompasses all its members.
The term "family resemblance" draws an analogy to how members of a family can possess diverse physical features, yet still display resemblances to one another due to shared familial traits. Similarly, in the context of philosophy, family resemblance denotes a similarity or connection between various objects or concepts, without any one characteristic that applies to all.
According to Wittgenstein, family resemblance challenges the traditional view that concepts or categories can be defined by necessary and sufficient conditions. Instead, he proposed that concepts are formed through overlapping similarities, interconnections, and patterns that are created through language and shared experiences. Essentially, family resemblance suggests that the relationships between objects or ideas are determined by a tangled and intricate network of similarities and connections rather than by a single defining feature.
Overall, family resemblance signifies a mode of categorization or classification that recognizes the interconnectedness and complexity of the world rather than relying on simple and fixed definitions. It highlights the fluidity and richness of the relationships between objects or concepts in a particular category, emphasizing the dynamic nature of human understanding and language.
Common Misspellings for FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
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Etymology of FAMILY RESEMBLANCE
The term "family resemblance" was coined by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in his book "Philosophical Investigations". Wittgenstein used the phrase to describe a concept that challenges traditional definitions based on common features or characteristics. He argued that members of a category or family may not have one defining feature but rather share a collection of overlapping similarities, creating a resemblance among the members of the group. The specific term "family resemblance" itself is a translation of the German word "Familienähnlichkeit", which Wittgenstein used in his original work.
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