A concept is an abstract idea or a generalization. It is something that we can understand and visualize, but cannot touch or see. A concept can be simple, like the idea of a chair, or it can be complex, like the idea of justice. We use concepts to help us make sense of our world and to communicate with others.
Concepts are important because they allow us to think about things that we cannot directly experience. For example, we cannot directly experience love or hate, but by thinking about these concepts we can better understand our own emotions and the emotions of others.
Concepts also allow us to communicate our ideas to others. If I want to tell you about my vacation in Mexico, I will use words and phrases like “beach,” “sunshine,” and “margaritas” which are all concepts that you will likely understand even if you have never been to Mexico yourself.
The word “concept” comes from the Latin word conceptus, which means “to conceive.” This Latin root gave rise to the Old French word concevoir, which meant “to understand.” The English borrowing of this word, however, took on a different meaning. In English, the word concept came to mean “a general idea or principle.”
The development of the modern meaning of the concept is interesting because it shows how words can change over time. The original Latin root had nothing to do with ideas or principles; it simply referred to the act of conceiving something. However, through its journey into Old French and then English, the word gradually acquired its current meaning. This is just one example of how language evolves over time in response to changing needs and uses.