Single Idea 22287

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 7. Abstract/Concrete / a. Abstract/concrete]

Full Idea

The word 'concrete' is often used as the negative of 'abstract', with the slightly odd consequence that desires and hallucinations are thereby classified as concrete.

Gist of Idea

If 'concrete' is the negative of 'abstract', that means desires and hallucinations are concrete

Source

Michael Potter (The Rise of Analytic Philosophy 1879-1930 [2020], 12 'Numb')

Book Reference

Potter,Michael: 'The Rise of Anaytic Philosophy 1879-1930' [Routledge 2020], p.82


A Reaction

There is also the even more baffling usage of 'abstract' for the most highly generalised mathematics, leaving lower levels as 'concrete'. I favour the use of 'generalised' wherever possible, rather than 'abstract'.