Single Idea 8521

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 2. Resemblance Nominalism]

Full Idea

The objection to nominalism is its consequence that if there were no human race (or other living things), nothing would be like anything else.

Gist of Idea

Nominalism has the problem that without humans nothing would resemble anything else

Source

Keith Campbell (The Metaphysic of Abstract Particulars [1981], §6)

Book Reference

'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.133


A Reaction

Anti-realists will be unflustered by this difficulty. Personally it strikes me as obvious that some aspects of resemblance are part of reality which we did not contribute. This I take to be a contingent fact, founded on the existence of natural kinds.