Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Dennis Whitcomb, Dale Jacquette and Bob Hale

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5 ideas

8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets

7703	If classes can't be eliminated, and they are property combinations, then properties (universals) can't be either [Jacquette]
	Full Idea: If classes alone cannot be eliminated from ontology on Quine's terms, and if classes are defined as property combinations, then neither are all properties, universals in the tradition sense, entirely eliminable.
	From: Dale Jacquette (Ontology [2002], Ch. 9)
	A reaction: If classes were totally conventional (and there was no such things as a 'natural' class) then you might admit something to a class without knowing its properties (as 'the thing in the box').

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 1. Universals

10521	If F can't have location, there is no problem of things having F in different locations [Hale]
	Full Idea: If Fs are incapable of spatial location, it is impossible for a and b to be at the same time in different places and yet be the same F.
	From: Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.3.III)
	A reaction: A passing remark from Hale which strikes me as incredibly significant. The very idea of a 'one-over-many' is that there are many locations for the thing, so to conclude that the thing is therefore non-located seems to negate the original problem.

10511	It is doubtful if one entity, a universal, can be picked out by both predicates and abstract nouns [Hale]
	Full Idea: The traditional conception of universals, resting as it does upon the idea that some single type of entity is picked out by expressions of such radically different logical types as predicates and abstract nouns, is of doubtful coherence.
	From: Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.3 Intro)
	A reaction: A striking case of linguistic metaphysics in action. I don't believe in universals, but I don't find this persuasive, as our capacity to express the same proposition by means of extremely varied syntax is obvious. Is 'horse' an abstract noun?

10318	Realists take universals to be the referrents of both adjectives and of nouns [Hale]
	Full Idea: On the traditional realist's view abstract qualities (universals) are the common referents of two quite different sorts of expression - of ordinary adjectives (predicates), and of abstract nouns referring to them.
	From: Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.2.II)
	A reaction: This fact alone should make us suspicious, especially as there isn't an isomorphism between the nouns and the adjectives, and the match-up will vary between languages.

8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / c. Nominalism about abstracta

10310	Objections to Frege: abstracta are unknowable, non-independent, unstatable, unindividuated [Hale]
	Full Idea: Objections to Frege's argument for abstract objects: that the objects would not have the right sort of independence; that we could have no knowledge of them; that the singular term statements can't be had; that thoughts of abstracta can't be identified.
	From: Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.1)
	A reaction: [compressed] [See Idea 10309 for the original argument] It is helpful to have this list, even if Hale rejects them all. They are also created but then indestructible, and exist in unlimited profusion, and seem relative to a language. Etc!