Single Idea 13186

[catalogued under 18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 3. Abstracta by Ignoring]

Full Idea

In forming universals the soul only abstracts certain circumstances by concealing innumerable others. ..A spherical body complete in all respects is nowhere in nature; the soul forms such a notion by concealing aberrations.

Gist of Idea

Universals are just abstractions by concealing some of the circumstances

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Burcher De Volder [1706], 1704 or 1705)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.183


A Reaction

This is Leibniz's affirmation of traditional 'abstraction by ignoring', which everyone seems to have believed in before Frege, and which I personally think is simply correct, even though it is deeply unfashionable and I keep it to myself.