Single Idea 16260

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

Full Idea

On one line of thought, the question of whether universals exist seems to reduce to the question of the utility, or necessity, of using second-order rather than first-order logic.

Gist of Idea

Existence of universals may just be decided by acceptance, or not, of second-order logic

Source

Tim Maudlin (The Metaphysics within Physics [2007], 3.1)

Book Reference

Maudlin,Tim: 'The Metaphysics within Physics' [OUP 2007], p.83


A Reaction

Second-order logic quantifies over properties, where first-order logic just quantifies over objects. This is an extreme example of doing your metaphysics largely through logic. Not my approach.