UniversalsUniversals begins with a taxonomy of extreme nominalist, moderate nominalist, and realist positions on properties, outlining the way each handles the phenomena of predication, resemblance, and abstract reference. The debate about properties and philosophical naturalism is also examined. Different forms of extreme nominalism and minimalist realism are critiqued. Later chapters defend a traditional realist view of universals and examine the objections to realism from various infinite regresses, the difficulties in stating identity conditions for properties, and problems with realist accounts of knowledge of abstract objects. The debate between Platonists and Aristotelians is examined in the context of the relationship between properties and an adequate theory of existence. The book's final chapter explores the problem of individuating particulars. Universals makes a difficult topic accessible while maintaining the sophistication of argument required by a more advanced readership, providing an authoritative treatment of the subject for both students and scholars. |
Contents
Extreme nominalism and properties | 23 |
Moderate nominalism and properties | 50 |
Wolterstorffs kinds | 74 |
properties are abstract objects | 97 |
issues and objections | 114 |
The individuation of particulars | 140 |
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Common terms and phrases
abstract entities abstract objects abstract particulars abstract reference abstract singular terms affairs Alvin Plantinga analysis argued argument Aristotelian Aristotle assay bare particulars Campbell Campbell's causal Chapter claim colour complex entities concrete particulars D. M. Armstrong distinction of reason exact similarity relation exactly resembling example exemplification relation extreme nominalism extreme nominalists F things F-ness fact G. F. Stout green Grossmann grounded Gustav Bergmann Husserl Ibid identical instances instantiated internal relations involves issues J. P. Moreland kind Loux Metaphysics model/copy moderate nominalism moderate nominalist naturalist non-identical non-spatiotemporal ontology order universals philosophers Plantinga Plato Platonist possible world predication primitive problem of universals properties e.g. property-instances quality-instance red things red tropes regress argument reject relevant Secondly seems Sellars sense simple entity simplicity view Socrates Socrates and Plato Stout substance supervenient theory of existence Theory of Universals thin particular tion tokens traditional realist unexemplified uninstantiated universals Wolterstorff