Single Idea 9099

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 5. Generalisation by mind]

Full Idea

The generality attaching to a nature - its relatedness to many particular instances - results from abstraction, so in this sense a generalized nature presupposes its instances, and does not, as Plato thought, precede them.

Gist of Idea

Particular instances come first, and (pace Plato) generalisations are abstracted from them

Source

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ch.5 Q85.2)

Book Reference

Aquinas,Thomas: 'Summa Theologicae (Concise)', ed/tr. McDermott,Timothy [Christian Classics 1991], p.136


A Reaction

This seems to be a quite explicit endorsement of abstractionism by Aquinas, despite all Geach's assertions to the contrary.