Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Melvin Fitting, J Hoffman/G Rosenkrantz and George Boole

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8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 4. Uninstantiated Universals

8962	'There are shapes which are never exemplified' is the toughest example for nominalists [Hoffman/Rosenkrantz]
	Full Idea: The example which presents the most serious challenge to nominalism is 'there are shapes which are never exemplified'.
	From: J Hoffman/G Rosenkrantz (Platonistic Theories of Universals [2003], 3)
	A reaction: To 'exemplify' a shape must it be a physical object, or a drawing of such an object, or a description? If none of those have ever existed, I'm not sure what 'are' is supposed to mean. They seem to be possibilia (with all the associated problems).