Single Idea 18498

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / d. Problems with abstracta]

Full Idea

It would be difficult to understand the popularity of 'abstract entities' - numbers, sets, propositions - in the absence of an implicit acknowledgement of the importance of truthmakers.

Gist of Idea

Abstract objects wouldn't be very popular without the implicit idea of truthmakers

Source

John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 08.07)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.170


A Reaction

I love Idea 18496, because it leads us towards a better account of modality, but dislike this one because it reveals that the truthmaking idea has led us to a very poor theory. Truthmaking is a good question, but not much of an answer?

Related Ideas

Idea 18496 If possible worlds are just fictions, they can't be truthmakers for modal judgements [Heil]

Idea 18497 Many reject 'moral realism' because they can't see any truthmakers for normative judgements [Heil]