Single Idea 15730

[catalogued under 7. Existence / E. Categories / 5. Category Anti-Realism]

Full Idea

Pure, extreme nominalism sees all classification as the product of arbitrary convention.

Gist of Idea

Extreme nominalists say all classification is arbitrary convention

Source

Anthony Quinton (The Nature of Things [1973], 9 'Nat')

Book Reference

Quinton,Anthony: 'The Nature of Things' [RKP 1973], p.264


A Reaction

I'm not sure what the word 'arbitrary' is doing there. Nominalists are not daft, and if they can classify any way they like, they are not likely to choose an 'arbitrary' system. Pragmatism tells the right story here.