Abstraction

vague

general

specificsindividuals

abstract

examplesconcrete

Some statements are

Other statements are about

vague

general

specificsindividuals

abstract

examples

Jim is an extremistJim is an extremist

Jim’s a rabid Yankees fanJim’s a rabid Yankees fan

Jim spent $7,450 on Jim spent $7,450 on Yankee souvenirs in MayYankee souvenirs in May

concrete

vague

general

specificsindividual

thing

abstract

examples

Larry is talentedLarry is talented

Larry makes furnitureLarry makes furniture

Larry made this chairLarry made this chair

Larry does carpentryLarry does carpentry

vague

general

specificsindividual

thing

abstract

examples

Emilio is the best player alive Emilio is the best player alive

Emilio leads the league in H.R.’sEmilio leads the league in H.R.’s

He has hit 42 homers so farHe has hit 42 homers so far

Emilio’s numbers are greatEmilio’s numbers are great

vague

generalabstract

examples

Senator Smith is conservative.Senator Smith is conservative.

He never votes for tax increases.He never votes for tax increases.

He voted “no” on every He voted “no” on every tax bill in 2004.tax bill in 2004.

“ ’“ ’Chew mean? ”Chew mean? ”

““F’rinstance?”F’rinstance?”

specifics

abstract

Senator Smith is conservative.Senator Smith is conservative.

He’s against tax increases.He’s against tax increases.

Smith voted “no” on Smith voted “no” on every tax bill in 2004.every tax bill in 2004.

“ “ So what? ”So what? ”

““So what?”So what?”

You take a step up the You take a step up the ladder,ladder,

But then you circle back But then you circle back down to where you started!down to where you started!

1

2

3

That means he’s a conservative.That means he’s a conservative.

Smith’s against free trade.Smith’s against free trade.

““What’s a conservative?”What’s a conservative?”

““So what?”So what?”

That’s someone who’s That’s someone who’s against against free tradefree trade..

All statements are All statements are on the same level.on the same level.

You stay on the same rung!You stay on the same rung!

1 2 3 4

I bought a pair of Nikes.

I bought some socks.

I bought a fitted.

I bought some shorts.

You never go anywhere!You never go anywhere!

All statements are All statements are on the same level.on the same level.

You say the same thing in You say the same thing in different words!different words!

12

I caught measles I caught rubeola.

You never go anywhere!You never go anywhere!

is the process of leaving outleaving out certain characteristics about a thing

Abstractionand considering only the

characteristics it has in commoncharacteristics it has in common with certain other things

Floppy ears?Floppy ears?

Color?Color?

Long Long hair?hair?

Size?Size?

Short Tail?Short Tail?

MateriaMaterial beingsl beings

“Beings that take up physical space”

“Beings that take up physical space”

grow by assimilating food, reproduce using genetic materials

Living Living beingbeingss

Beings that take up physical space

grow by assimilating food, reproduce geneticallylocomotionsensation

AnimalsAnimals

Beings that take up physical space

grow by assimilating food, reproduce geneticallylocomotionsensationbackbone

VertebratesVertebrates

Beings that take up physical space

grow by assimilating food, reproduce geneticallylocomotionsensationbackbone

Warm-Warm-blooded blooded

VertebratesVertebrates

warm-blooded

take up physical spacegrow by assimilating food,

mammamammalsls locomotion

sensation

reproduce genetically

backbonewarm-bloodedgive birth toliving

youngfeed young with milk

“material beings” is at a “high level”high level” of abstraction

namely: they take up space.

because it includes it includes only one characteristiconly one characteristic

of dogs,

high levelhigh level

material beings“take up space”

“material beings” is at a higher levelhigher level of abstraction

than the word “vertebrates”

because it leaves outit leaves out more characteristicsmore characteristics

of dogs

it leaves outit leaves out

material beings

vertebrates

take up space

backbonereproduce

feedsensation

locomotion

END