Single Idea 4479

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 1. Universals]

Full Idea

Russell denies that universals have any location at all. ..He is generalising from the case of "is north of", which does not exist any more in Edinburgh than in London.

Gist of Idea

All universals are like the relation "is north of", in having no physical location at all

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 9) by Michael J. Loux - Metaphysics: contemporary introduction p.55

Book Reference

Loux,Michael J.: 'Metaphysics: a contemporary introduction' [Routledge 2000], p.55


A Reaction

Russell may claim that the relation "is north of" is natural, but I suspect that it is a convention, mapped onto a physical situation. Reifying relations invite charges of a regress (as Bradley noted).