Cartographic Structures and Heterogeneous Inferences

MARIELA AGUILERA; FEDERICO CASTELLANO

Córdoba

Workshop; 3th Workshop on Concepts and Perception; 2017

FFyH, IDH UNC-CONICET

Abstract: In order to make the case for non-conceptualism, Heck (2007) turns to an apparent dichotomy between linguistic and iconic representations. According to Heck, whereas linguistic representations have conceptual content, the content of iconic representations is non-conceptual. Although we deeply sympathize with Heck?s representationalist shift, we argue that it does not tip the balance in favor of non-conceptualism. Based on the case of cartographic systems, we criticize Heck?s dichotomous distinction between linguistic and iconic representations. Firstly, we argue that, despite being non-linguistic, maps are not iconic as they are composed of semantically arbitrary elements that play different syntactic roles. Upon this, we claim that maps have a predicative structure. Secondly, we argue that by virtue of having a predicative structure, maps satisfy the generality constraint and, hence, have conceptual content. Finally, based on the previous conclusions, we argue that, despite their differences, maps and sentences can logically interact with each other by means of heterogeneous inferences. These considerations not only challenge the view that conceptual content and inferential processes necessarily involve linguistic representations, but they also provide a new perspective for thinking about maps, their semantics and syntax, and their interaction with linguistic systems.