What are Thick Concepts?

Canadian Journal of Philosophy 41 (1):25-49 (2011)
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Abstract

Many theorists hold that there is, among value concepts, a fundamental distinction between thin ones and thick ones. Among thin ones are concepts like good and right. Among concepts that have been regarded as thick are discretion, caution, enterprise, industry, assiduity, frugality, economy, good sense, prudence, discernment, treachery, promise, brutality, courage, coward, lie, gratitude, lewd, perverted, rude, glorious, graceful, exploited, and, of course, many others. Roughly speaking, thick concepts are value concepts with significant descriptive content. I will discuss a number of problems having to do with how best to understand the notion of a thick concept. Thick concepts have been widely discussed in the ..

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Matti Eklund
Uppsala University

Citations of this work

What is fake news?Romy Jaster & David Lanius - 2018 - Versus 2 (127):207-227.
Thick Concepts.Debbie Roberts - 2013 - Philosophy Compass 8 (8):677-688.
Thick Ethical Concepts.Pekka Väyrynen - 2016 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Thick Concepts and Variability.Pekka Väyrynen - 2011 - Philosophers' Imprint 11:1-17.

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