käsitekonveksihulut

Käsitekonveksihulut is a term that emerged in late 20th-century Finnish philosophical discourse, primarily associated with the work of Professor Arto Virtanen. It describes a hypothetical entity or concept that possesses a convex nature within a conceptual space. The term is a portmanteau of "käsite" (concept), "konveksi" (convex), and "hulut" (a colloquial and somewhat dismissive term, often implying something trivial or unsubstantial). Therefore, "käsitekonveksihulut" can be loosely translated as "conceptually convex trivialities" or "insubstantial convex concepts."

The core idea behind käsitekonveksihulut relates to the boundaries and properties of abstract ideas. A convex set in mathematics is one where any two points within the set can be connected by a straight line segment that lies entirely within the set. Applied conceptually, a käsitekonveksihulut would represent an idea or a set of related ideas that are neatly delineated and internally consistent, lacking any ambiguity or internal contradictions that would extend "outside" the conceptual boundary. However, the "hulut" aspect suggests that these well-defined concepts are often minor, inconsequential, or perhaps overly simplistic, lacking significant depth or practical application.

Virtanen used the term to critique certain trends in academic philosophy that he believed focused on overly refined, logically sound but ultimately trivial conceptual structures, neglecting broader philosophical questions. The term is not widely adopted in international philosophy but remains a point of reference in discussions of Finnish analytic philosophy and conceptual analysis.