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Single Idea 10489

[filed under theme 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / c. Modern abstracta ]

Full Idea

We twentieth century city dwellers deal with abstract objects all the time, such as bank balances, radio programs, software, newspaper articles, poems, mistakes, triangles.

Gist of Idea

We deal with abstract objects all the time: software, poems, mistakes, triangles..

Source

George Boolos (Must We Believe in Set Theory? [1997], p.129)

Book Ref

Boolos,George: 'Logic, Logic and Logic' [Harvard 1999], p.129

A Reaction

I find this claim to be totally question-begging, and typical of a logician. The word 'object' gets horribly stretched in these discussions. We can create concepts which have all the logical properties of objects. Maybe they just 'subsist'?

The 17 ideas with the same theme [examples amd principles of modern abstracta]:

12939 Wholly uniform things like space and numbers are mere abstractions [Leibniz]
10309 Frege says singular terms denote objects, numerals are singular terms, so numbers exist [Frege, by Hale]
10550 Frege establishes abstract objects independently from concrete ones, by falling under a concept [Frege, by Dummett]
18269 Logical objects are extensions of concepts, or ranges of values of functions [Frege]
8719 There can be impossible and contradictory objects, if they can have properties [Meinong, by Friend]
10543 Abstract objects must have names that fall within the range of some functional expression [Dummett]
9859 It is absurd to deny the Equator, on the grounds that it lacks causal powers [Dummett]
9860 'We've crossed the Equator' has truth-conditions, so accept the Equator - and it's an object [Dummett]
9858 Abstract objects nowadays are those which are objective but not actual [Dummett]
10489 We deal with abstract objects all the time: software, poems, mistakes, triangles.. [Boolos]
10415 Properties make round squares and round triangles distinct, unlike exemplification [Zalta, by Swoyer]
9878 Contextually defined abstract terms genuinely refer to objects [Wright,C, by Dummett]
9969 The empty set is the purest abstract object [Jubien]
10626 Objects just are what singular terms refer to [Hale/Wright]
7699 Numbers, sets and propositions are abstract particulars; properties, qualities and relations are universals [Jacquette]
7783 Bodies, properties, relations, events, numbers, sets and propositions are 'things' if they exist [Lowe]
10307 The modern Fregean use of the term 'object' is much broader than the ordinary usage [Hale]