Single Idea 17619

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / c. Nominalism about abstracta]

Full Idea

We do not believe in abstract entities..... We renounce them altogether.

Gist of Idea

We renounce all abstract entities

Source

Goodman,N/Quine,W (Steps Towards a Constructive Nominalism [1947], p.105), quoted by Penelope Maddy - Defending the Axioms

Book Reference

Maddy,Penelope: 'Defending the Axioms' [OUP 2013], p.97


A Reaction

Goodman always kept the faith here, but Quine decided to embrace sets, as a minimal commitment to abstracta needed for mathematics, which was needed for science. My sympathies are with Goodman. This is the modern form of 'nominalism'.