Abstract

This paper introduces Conceptual Intelligence (CI), a novel theory of cognition that positions the capacity for boundary creation and revision as the fundamental characteristic of intelligent systems. Unlike traditional computational models that treat intelligence as symbol manipulation within fixed frameworks, CI proposes that genuine intelligence lies in the ability to generate, interrogate, and evolve the conceptual boundaries that structure perception and reasoning. Drawing on insights from philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence, this theory offers both a descriptive account of human cognitive development and a prescriptive framework for designing adaptive artificial systems. The implications extend across education, scientific discovery, creative expression, and the development of artificial general intelligence, suggesting that boundary fluidity—rather than computational power—may be the key to understanding and creating truly intelligent systems.