REIFICATION Meaning and
Definition
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Reification is a conceptual term commonly used in philosophy, sociology, and psychology to describe the process of treating abstract ideas, concepts, or social constructs as if they were concrete, tangible entities. It refers to the process of transforming something that is abstract and theoretical into something that is perceived as more real, solid, and objective.
In simpler terms, reification is the act of treating an abstract concept or idea as if it were a material object or thing. This can occur when people assign concrete and fixed characteristics to things that are actually conceptual or social constructs. For example, treating money as if it were inherently valuable and forgetting that it only holds value because people collectively agree to give it value is a form of reification.
Reification can lead to potential problems in understanding and analyzing social phenomena, as it can obscure the fact that concepts and constructs are created and maintained by humans and are therefore subject to change. It can also lead to the reinforcing of stereotypes and the naturalization of social hierarchies.
In summary, reification refers to the act of treating abstract concepts or social constructs as if they were real, concrete entities. This can impede critical analysis and understanding of social phenomena, as it obscures the fact that these concepts are human creations and subject to change.
Common Misspellings for REIFICATION
Etymology of REIFICATION
The word "reification" comes from the Latin term "res" meaning "thing" or "object" and the suffix "-ificare" which means "to make" or "to cause". The term was first used in the field of philosophy by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century to describe the process in which abstract concepts or ideas are treated as if they were concrete, real, or tangible entities. It has since been adopted and widely used in various fields, including sociology, psychology, and linguistics, to refer to the process of treating abstract concepts as if they were objective realities.
Similar spelling words for REIFICATION
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