Concept as a transdisciplinary phenomenon: further elaborating the problem

This article is of theoretical nature as it is aimed at gaining insights into the current state of conceptology as one of the youngest and so far unsettled theories. The paper presents the results of a study into approaches in modern linguistics to understanding the phenomenon of ‘concept’. The purpose of the work is to identify theoretical gaps in the scientifically based theory of concept as well as possible ways of further development of this concept, but in a categorical aspect, i.e., precisely as a category. In the course of the study, we revealed a significant number of scientific directions differing in the interpretation of the phenomenon of ‘concept’ and performed essential analysis of these. As a result, several key areas in the study of concept were identified, and an attempt was made to systematize thereof. Generalization of the existing definitions indicated the absence of an unambiguous interpretation of concept; however, its invariant features were determined: subjectivity, mental nature (conceptual character), sociality, correlation with the culture of a certain ethnic group, multidimensionality. We also analyzed scientific contradictions in understanding the essence of concept and discussed the probable causes of their existence. The result of the study is the identification of possible ways to overcome the revealed theoretical contradictions, which opens up additional opportunities for a comprehensive study of concept. Here is meant the study of concept precisely as a category, which would allow for further development of the theory of conceptology, make it possible to increase the level of elaboration and scientific validity of transdisciplinary methodology, develop a universal approach to understanding the phenomenon of concept based on and taking into account its multilayeredness and transdisciplinarity.