abstraction
Let an agent explain abstraction as a cognitive process and its role in thought, language, mathematics and computing, support applying abstraction in problem solving and design, and describe research and philosophical accounts.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What abstraction is.
Process
The cognitive process.
Process
Process.
- How does the mind form abstract concepts from particulars, according to cognitive science? provenance
- Which sense of abstraction is meant here? boundary
Philosophy
Philosophical accounts.
Philosophy
Philosophy.
- How have philosophers from Aristotle and Locke to modern theorists explained abstraction, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific philosopher? action
Apply Using abstraction.
Problem
Problem solving.
Problem
Problem solving.
- How can abstraction help solve this problem by identifying the essential structure? action
- When does abstraction lose necessary detail? boundary
Computing
Abstraction in computing.
Computing
Computing.
- How is abstraction used in programming, interfaces and system design, and what are leaky abstractions? definition
- Which entry fits software design? action
Fields Abstraction across fields.
Mathematics
Mathematics and science.
Mathematics
Mathematics.
- How do mathematics and science build on abstraction, from numbers to models? provenance
- Which entry fits mathematical modelling? action
Art
Abstraction in art.
Art
Art.
- What is abstraction in art, and how does it relate to the cognitive sense? provenance
- Which entry fits abstract art? action
Learn Development and teaching.
Development
Development in children.
Development
Development.
- How does abstract thinking develop in children, according to developmental psychology? provenance
- Which findings are contested? boundary
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can abstraction be taught across subjects? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Activities and processes
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- ACT
- Domain
- ACT.PRC
What it is Filled
The cognitive process of forming general concepts by extracting common features from particular instances and setting aside specific details, as when the idea of a chair is formed from many chairs, and the resulting general ideas; abstraction underlies concept formation, language, mathematics, science and computing, where it names the practice of hiding detail behind general interfaces, and it is studied in psychology, philosophy and cognitive science.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain abstraction as a cognitive process and its role in thought, language, mathematics and computing, support applying abstraction in problem solving and design, and describe research and philosophical accounts.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Concept formation
- Detail removal
- Levels of abstraction
- Cross-field
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Hide details that matter for safety or fairness behind an abstraction.
- Present an abstract model as reality.
- Use vague language and call it abstraction.
Only with a human decision
- Replacing an abstraction that other teams depend on.
May
- Form and explain abstractions, stating what details are set aside.
- Design software abstractions and document their limits.
Moral aspects Filled
- Abstracting people into categories can erase individual circumstances.
Who is affected
- People modelled in systems
- Developers
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the concept; it is held in common.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q781413 - registry parent class
related
- cognitive process - category
- equivalence relation - abstraction by identifying equivalents
- difference - features set aside
- experience - instances abstracted from
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.abstraction
- Wikidata: Q673661 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q673661)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
Plane ACT: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- General concepts from instances
- Detail set aside
- Generalisation extends claims; idealisation simplifies deliberately
- Not physical; a mental process.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain the process
- describe roles across fields
- support applying abstraction
- describe research
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Over-abstraction losing relevant detail
- Leaky abstractions in computing
- Confusing abstraction with vagueness
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- No regulation; conventions of each field
- Software design principles on abstraction
Context of use required Filled
- Forming general concepts from particulars.
- abstraction in concept formation
- abstraction in mathematics
- abstraction in computing and design
- abstraction in art
- levels of abstraction in reasoning
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q673661: abstraction - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Abstraction - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should computing abstraction be a separate entry?
- How should cognitive research be linked?
- How should philosophical sources be linked?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q673661/spec.json