Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance

Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance

Published on: January 17, 2013

Re-engineering contested concepts. A reflective-equilibrium approach.

¹Institute for Philosophy, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 49a, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.

|May 5, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

Equity Theory

Equity Theory

Equity theory explains how our sense of fairness influences the dynamics of close relationships. Rooted in social psychology, the theory posits that individuals evaluate fairness by comparing the ratio of their contributions to the rewards they receive. Relationship satisfaction is highest when these ratios are perceived as balanced between partners, promoting mutual reciprocity and a sense of justice.Equity vs. Equality in RelationshipsEquity is distinct from equality. Fairness does not...

Introspection

Introspection

Introspection, long upheld as a reliable route to self-knowledge, involves examining one's thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It underpins many psychological practices, from mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy and self-help strategies. However, empirical evidence challenges the accuracy of introspection as a means of understanding oneself.Limitations of Introspective InsightSeminal work by Nisbett and Wilson demonstrated that individuals are frequently unaware of the true causes...

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...

Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model

Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model

The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...

Understanding Self-Concept

Understanding Self-Concept

The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same journal

Can Evidential Pluralism mitigate bias and motivated reasoning?

Synthese·2026

Same journal

AI-assisted rational decision-making.

Synthese·2026

Same journal

Technological Understanding: On the cognitive skill involved in the design and use of technological artefacts.

Synthese·2026

Same journal

Addictive Motivational Scaffolds and the Structure of Social Media.

Synthese·2026

Same journal

When do we experience effort?

Synthese·2026

Same journal

Prescriptive 'selves' and self-illness ambiguity.

Synthese·2025

See all related articles

This study explores how social scientists debate contested concepts like democracy. It proposes reflective equilibrium as a dynamic approach to understanding concept formation and inter-theorist dialogue.

Area of Science:

Social Sciences
Political Science
Philosophy

Background:

Social scientists, political scientists, and philosophers frequently debate contested concepts such as democracy, power, and autonomy.
Ambiguity in key terms raises questions about how theorists can engage in productive dialogue and defend alternative accounts without misunderstanding each other.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the limitations of using Rawls's distinction between concepts and conceptions to resolve debates over contested terms.
To propose reflective equilibrium as an alternative framework for understanding concept formation and inter-theorist disagreement.

Main Methods:

Critically examines the Rawlsian concept/conception distinction in the context of social science debates.
Introduces and elaborates on the reflective equilibrium approach as a dynamic model for concept development.

Keywords:

Conception Conceptual engineering Contested concepts Explication Rawls Reflective equilibrium

More Related Videos

Mixed Reality for Education MRE Implementation and Results in Online Classes for Engineering

Mixed Reality for Education MRE Implementation and Results in Online Classes for Engineering

Published on: June 23, 2023

Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research

Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research

Published on: November 24, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance

Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance

Published on: January 17, 2013

Mixed Reality for Education MRE Implementation and Results in Online Classes for Engineering

Mixed Reality for Education MRE Implementation and Results in Online Classes for Engineering

Published on: June 23, 2023

Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research

Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research

Published on: November 24, 2021

Main Results:

The Rawlsian approach, while popular, is limited in its ability to capture the dynamic and normative aspects of concept formation.
Reflective equilibrium offers a more robust framework by viewing concept formation as an ongoing, partly normative process.
This approach explains how differing accounts of concepts like justice can emerge from shared starting points.

Conclusions:

The traditional concept/conception distinction is insufficient for understanding disagreements in social science.
Reflective equilibrium provides a dynamic and normative perspective on concept formation, enabling a better understanding of how theorists can develop and defend rival accounts without talking past each other.