Conceptual analysis, like any exclusively theoretical activity, is far from overrated in current psychology. Such a situation can be related both to the contingent influences of contextual and historical character and to the more essential metatheoretical reasons. After a short discussion of the latter it is argued that even within a strictly empirical psychology there are non-trivial tasks that can be attached to well-defined and methodologically reliable, conceptual work. This kind of method, inspired by the ideas of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Peter Strawson (conceptual grammar), and Gilbert Ryle (conceptual geography), is proposed and formally depicted as being holistic, descriptive, and connective. Finally, the newly presented framework of connective conceptual analysis is defended against the "Charge from Psychology," in a version developed by William Ramsey, claiming that conceptual analysis is based on psychological assumptions that have already been refuted by empirical psychology.
Keywords conceptual analysis, connective analysis, language, Strawson, WittgensteinFor if you look at them you will not see something that is common to all, but similarities, relationships, and a whole series of them at that. … And the result of this examination is: we see a complicated network of similarities overlapping and criss-crossing: sometimes overall similarities, sometimes similarities of detail. (Wittgenstein, 1953(Wittgenstein, /1999 Why may psychology need such a disgraceful activity as conceptual analysis?Conceptual analysis does not seem to be a well-regarded endeavour in modern psychology. Not only is it not by itself encouraged, but it may also, especially if conducted as a primary occupation, constitute a serious hindrance in one's professional
