Correlata

Correlata is the plural form of correlate, a term used primarily in philosophy, logic, and related fields to designate the entities that stand in a correlation or relational tie with one another. The correlates are the two relata of a given relation, which can take many forms depending on the context.

In philosophy of mind and language, correlata often refers to the pairing between a mental state or proposition and the object, state of affairs, or fact with which it is connected. For example, a belief about a situation correlates with the actual situation it represents; a proposition correlates with the state of affairs that would make it true. The emphasis is on the mutually dependent nature of the relation: altering one correlate typically affects or is tied to the other.

In semantics and epistemology, correlata can denote the entities that stand in a semantic or truth-conditional relation to each other, such as a sentence and its truth conditions, or a term and its reference. In color theory or perceptual psychology, correlates may refer to the objects or properties that correspond to perceptual experiences or judgments.

The term is often contrasted with the abstract notion of a correlation itself: while correlations describe the relation, correlata are the concrete entities participating in that relation. In statistical usage, correlates are variables that show some association with a phenomenon, though this sense is distinct from the philosophical use.

Etymology traces correlata to Latin correlatus, meaning joined together or related. The concept underscores the idea that certain phenomena, beliefs, or statements obtain their meaning or truth through their connection to particular opposed or complementary entities.