Single Idea 7533

[catalogued under 7. Existence / E. Categories / 3. Proposed Categories]

Full Idea

The real Platonic entities left standing after the Theory of Descriptions were propositions (not classes or numbers), and their constituents did not include denoting concepts or classes, but only individuals (Socrates) and universals (mortality).

Gist of Idea

The Theory of Description dropped classes and numbers, leaving propositions, individuals and universals

Source

report of Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by Ray Monk - Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude Ch.6

Book Reference

Monk,Ray: 'Bertrand Russell: Spirit of Solitude' [Vintage 1997], p.183


A Reaction

Propositions look like being the problem here. If we identify them with facts, it is not clear how many facts there are in the universe, independent of human thought. Indeed, how many universals are there? Nay, how many individuals? See Idea 7534.

Related Idea

Idea 7534 In 1906, Russell decided that propositions did not, after all, exist [Russell, by Monk]