Single Idea 10729

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals]

Full Idea

Armstrong thinks universals play two roles, namely grounding objective resemblances and grounding causal powers.

Gist of Idea

Universals explain resemblance and causal power

Source

report of David M. Armstrong (A Theory of Universals [1978]) by Alex Oliver - The Metaphysics of Properties 11

Book Reference

-: 'Mind' [-], p.30


A Reaction

Personally I don't think universals explain anything at all. They just add another layer of confusion to a difficult problem. Oliver objects that this seems a priori, contrary to Armstrong's principle in Idea 10728.

Related Idea

Idea 10728 A thing's self-identity can't be a universal, since we can know it a priori [Armstrong, by Oliver]