Single Idea 4236

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / a. Nature of tropes]

Full Idea

Tropes seem to be abstract entities because, unlike concrete entities, they are ontologically dependent; ..there are no 'free' tropes, and they must always be bundled with other appropriate tropes to exist.

Gist of Idea

Tropes seem to be abstract entities, because they can't exist alone, but must come in bundles

Source

E.J. Lowe (A Survey of Metaphysics [2002], p.367)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'A Survey of Metaphysics' [OUP 2002], p.367


A Reaction

Only a Platonist would think that a universal property could 'exist alone'. I presume Aristotle thought universals were real, though bound up with substances.