Single Idea 6613

[catalogued under 26. Natural Theory / B. Natural Kinds / 1. Natural Kinds]

Full Idea

There are three hierarchies of natural kinds: objects or substances (substantive universals), events or processes (dynamic universals), and properties or relations (tropic universals).

Clarification

For tropes, see Idea 4444

Gist of Idea

The natural kinds are objects, processes and properties/relations

Source

Brian Ellis (Katzav on limitations of dispositions [2005], 91)

Book Reference

-: 'Analysis 65.1 Jan 2005' [- 2005], p.90


A Reaction

Most interesting here is the identifying of natural kinds with universals, making universals into the families of nature. Universals are high-level sets of natural kinds. To grasp universals you must see patterns, and infer the underlying order.