Single Idea 14592

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 4. Abstract Existence]

Full Idea

Many things that seem to be abstract also seem to have a beginning (and ending) in time, such as a language like Urdu. It may be tempting to say that such things exist in time but not in space, but where exactly?

Gist of Idea

Some abstract things have a beginning and end, so may exist in time (though not space)

Source

Chris Swoyer (Abstract Entities [2008], 1.1)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.14


A Reaction

A few distinctions might be needed. Urdu-speaking is an ability of certain people. We abstract from that their 'language'. There is nothing there apart from that ability. It has no more abstract existence than the 'weather'.