Conceptual Ecology according to GEORGE J. POSNER, KENNETH A. STRIKE, PETER W. HEWSON, and WILLIAM A. GERTZOG
- An individual's current concepts
- “Two features of a conceptual ecology, in particular, were shown to guide the change process from one conception to another:
1) anomalies, and
2) fundamental assumptions about science and about knowledge.” (Posner et al., 1982, p. 223)
**Types of Concepts that determine direction of Accommodation**
1) Anomalies: The character of the specific failures of a given idea are an important part of the ecology which selects its successor.
2) Analogies and metaphors: These can serve to suggest new ideas and to make them intelligible.
3) Epistemological Commitments:
- Explanatory ideals
- subject matter-specific views that what count as a successful explanation in the field
- General views about the character of knowledge
- standards for successful knowledge such as elegance, economy, parsimony
4) Metaphysical beliefs and concepts
- Metaphysical beliefs about science
- Beliefs concerning the extent of orderliness, symmetry, or nonrandomness
- Metaphysical concepts of science
- beliefs about the ultimate nature of the universe and are immune from direct empirical refutation
5) Other knowledge
- Knowledge in other fields
- Competing Concepts
- “One condition for the selection of a new concept is that it should appear to have more promise than its competitors”