Concepts and Conclusions, Essay Example

Concept can be referred to as a process that constitutes development in the form of thought or action. It is the components of thought. The human mind is not an additive totality of reciprocally exclusive notions. Rather, it is the imputation of concepts as a result of the assembly of the connotations of words and actions. This is what makes the mind of humans to become an inseparable whole. The meaning of the words allows for the realization of concepts by its essence. Yet, concepts cannot be equated with the meanings of the word (Davis, 112). This is because of the fact that words are only ciphers for concepts. By definition, concept is the summation of all the significances, values, meanings, connotations and denotations it produces. But these variables have to be used and interpreted based on the context in which they are fashioned.

There are different ways in which concepts can be comprehended. It all depends on whether the concept is given an immediate definition for its utilization. It also depends on the purpose to which the concept will be used such as for recognition of a specific object, for writing an essay, or for when a jury will decide on a suspect’s innocence or guilt. Therefore, it can be said that concept can be realized differently and hence, affecting how people shape their conclusions on certain issues based on how they utilize concept and how they interpret it.  But to what extent do concepts shape the conclusions people reach?

Concepts absolutely shape how people reach their conclusions. As a matter of fact, the processes of acquiring information, forming an opinion, analyzing of views, gathering of evidence, fact-finding, and construction of conclusions are founded on concepts. These concepts are either introduced to an individual or are adopted later on in life for the purpose of finding a principle to live by in life. Hence, concepts vary accordingly based on education, experience and training. Not to mention that concepts is not just about what a person can learn in school or has experienced growing up. It is also about perception which is defined as the aptitude to hear, see or become conscious of things via the utilization of senses. This is the very reason why humans are said to be composed of bundles of feelings.

It is a known fact that there is a heavy reliance on perception and information to boost the level of intelligence and to form opinions. Education from school, family, religion, books and the environment help in the formation of concept that leads to strong and solid conclusions. However, because of the diversity of the sources of concepts and the aids in the formation of one, people have varying concepts because of these variables and backgrounds. Therefore, people can arrive at different conclusions based on the backgrounds and the variables in which the concepts were formed from especially when such concepts are clouded with bias and acquisition of wrong information from unreliable sources. Hence, it can be said that there is a direct relationship that is in existent between concepts and conclusions. The understanding of a concept can negatively or positively influence the conclusions that can be constructed based on everything that people learned throughout their lives. This is particularly true in the concepts of religion and the concept of criminality.

Take for example the concept of religion. This concept is a very controversial concept since there are varying opinions and conclusions that are formed about it. For people who have a strong belief about the concept of religion- for instance, Christianity, the objectivity and open-mindedness might work against new information and experiences. Christians believe in God and Jesus as the Messiah. They believe in the holiness and sanctity of the Bible. As a matter of fact, their belief and principles in life are guided by the Bible. Therefore, new information that will work against their belief and their foundation will likely be rejected. Their belief system will determine what information they will accept and acquire. Meaning to say, the opinions they form and the conclusions they will arrive at would have to be aligned with the current belief system, principles and values.

This is particularly true in relation with the issues on same sex marriages. Take for example the case of a government worker from Kentucky, USA who refused to issue a marriage license to couples of the same sex. The State of Kentucky has allowed same sex marriages on the grounds of the inherent right of people to get married without prejudice to gender and races. However, because of the acquired concept of religion that speaks of marriage as a union between a man and a woman only, such government worker still refused to issue marriage licences to couples of same sex. It did not matter that marriage is an inherent right of every individual. The only thing that mattered is that religion already set a preconceived idea of what marriage should be like and to whom it should be afforded. The conclusion is that the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman must be preserved and to afford it to people of the same sex is a direct violation of such conceptual background.

Yet, a different conclusion can be arrived at about Christianity and same sex marriage when a person with a more prominent utilization of words and language comes into play. One of the most transformative powers in the world is language. It has the power to critique opinions and practices and make people change their beliefs and yield a different conclusion. In the issue on same sex marriage, for example, when one is presented with legal grounds and political know-how on the issue, it has all the potentiality to convert a person into thinking that same sex marriage is an inherent right and should be afforded to people. This is the same with converting people to become atheist or vice-versa. Language is not just about words but rather embodies knowledge. The more words someone knows, the more effectively they can expound and debate on issues. Thus, influencing how someone thinks and concludes. It has the power to shape beliefs and people’s ability to think. Changing the language and using metaphors can alter existing pre-conceived thoughts and introduce a new and different perspective- which can either helpful or harmful.

Moreover, in the concept of criminal behavior, two people can easily arrive at differing conclusions on what affects criminal behaviors. It is also imperative to say that people who are proponents of the idea that social learning contributes to the criminal behavior of a person would conclude that criminal behaviors are triggered by the kind of environment a person was exposed to. It can be claimed that there have been cases entered in the justice system wherein the offender committed a domestic violence crime because that person grew up in that kind of environment. People can adapt these situations thinking that it is the norm. Hence, the abuse and violence carry on to the next generation. Some sociologists will agree and arrive to such conclusion but not all of them would. This might be true due to the fact that there are other people who grew up in a violent and chaotic environment and still did well for themselves. Not all of them have committed a crime.

Hence, it can be seen that the two varying concepts of understanding criminal behavior based on social learning yielded two different results. One agrees that social learning affects criminal behaviors and the other revealed that there is no relationship. It all depends on what type of group of people sociologists will use as there will be people whose environment influenced their criminal behaviors and there will be a group of people whose environment did not influence their behavior at all. Therefore, the conclusions arrived have been greatly shaped by the concepts, ideas and notions that were utilized in understanding a particular issue- criminal behavior in the given case.

Therefore, it can be said that concepts absolutely shape how people draw conclusions there are also other variables that affect it such as language, education, scientific processes and methodologies. It is also clear that people construct their conclusions based on what knowledge they already have and not based on new information- which tends to get rejected based on an established belief system. Facts and information are only accepted when they are in alignment of a developed knowledge acquired either through education or experiences. Yet, people can generally change their conclusions when science proves a different perspective on the same topic. Generally speaking, conclusion is the amalgamation of all the beliefs that have been built based on research, experience, perception, and education. In drawing a conclusion, the processes of deduction and induction are being utilized. However, when there is a preconceived notion on a particular topic, the deductive and inductive aspect of drawing a conclusion is not being use appropriately.  There is no acceptance of new knowledge and everything is based on what has been previously incorporated in the human mind. This is the very reason why 2 studies on same phenomena can result in 2 different conclusions.

This is also the very same reason why some people will not make room for new information or changes as they hold on tightly to what they have learned in their lifetime. Open-mindedness and objectivity suffer for the most part as they construct their conclusions. It is true that people see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. Clearly, concepts shape how people reach their conclusions. But in a grand scheme of things, concepts are shaped by evidence and concepts shape evidence. It is just a matter of what people will choose to believe and what they are willing to embrace to be true.

Work Cited

Davis, Wayne. Meaning, Expression and Thought. Cambridge University Press, 2003.