Single Idea 4467

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 4. Uninstantiated Universals]

Full Idea

If a property is held to be at the location of the particular, then if there are two objects having the same property, and one object is stationary and the other is moving, the realist is forced to say that the universal is both moving and at rest.

Gist of Idea

A naturalist and realist about universals is forced to say redness can be both moving and stationary

Source

J.P. Moreland (Universals [2001], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Moreland,J.P.: 'Universals' [Acumen 2001], p.89


A Reaction

The target of this comment is D.M.Armstrong. The example nicely illustrates the problem of trying to combine science and metaphysics. It pushes you back to Platonism, but that seems wrong too…