ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G04-049 · ATLAS 259

Representation

Representation is a relationship in which something stands for something else or makes it accessible in a particular format.

Part of the subject path Philosophy of Language, Thought and Knowledge

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

G · Foundational concept R2 · Necessary foundation

Representation makes things accessible through words, images and models while selecting or transforming aspects of them. Naming one theory of signs does not by itself explain all such representational relations.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

Representation is a relationship in which something stands for something else or makes it accessible in a particular format. Its conditions depend on theory and domain. A picture, linguistic expression and posited mental structure need not represent by the same mechanism. Resemblance alone is not generally sufficient: two objects may resemble each other without either depicting the other. Representations can also be incomplete or false. In the intentionality context, analysis must therefore ask how a representational model explains mental directedness rather than assume the explanation merely by naming it.

Movement of thought

1. Distinguish representation from represented object. 2. Describe the format. 3. Justify the relationship supporting representation. 4. Examine errors and boundary cases. 5. Separate explanation from presupposition.

Scientific use case

Model comparison can examine which information a representation preserves, changes or omits.

Example

A route map deliberately distorts distances while reliably representing the order of stops.

Counterexample

Two similarly shaped stones do not represent one another merely through resemblance.

Distinction

Distinguish representation from copying, resemblance, guaranteed truth and one exclusive theory of mental states.

Effect on thought and perception

The concept makes mediation and its limits available for analysis.

Resonance

Something becomes present without being present in the same form itself.

Provenance

Parallel corpus 98f0950771ae4662f291d2f15f5c51b6797f3c20ba458a68615cdb177002ea18; case-bounded source review accepted; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Representation“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G04-049. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-049

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G04-049

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