Ressemblance et catégorisation : étude de l'effet d'un contexte de nature axiologique

Abstract

Summary : Efficiency of semantic anticipation context of an axiological nature The aim of this article is to highlight the efficiency of semantic anticipation context of an axiological nature which governs similarity judgments and hence categorization processes. To account for flexibility inherent in the similarity judgment while at the same time keeping its cognitive value in constructing categories, recent research broke away with the objectivist classical theory (Tversky, 1977) by developing a pragmatic theory indicating that similarity depends on people's needs and purposes (Medin, 1989 ; Goldstone et al., 1997). The present paper is an attempt to break through this exclusively utilitarian view of similarity and its role in categorization processes. Subjects are asked to rank exemplars according to their similarity with a categorical concept, adopting beforehand a point of view allowing the stimulation of distinct axiological representations such as hedonist, utilitarian, aesthetic, epistemic and ethical ones. The results make it possible to state that a five mode axiological system guides similarity judgments by establishing relatively stable and separate categorical representations. The conclusions of this research reflect the current concerns relating to the theory of categorization in the cognitive tradition.