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Single Idea 12253

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes ]

Full Idea

If tropes are in space and time, in what sense are they abstract?

Gist of Idea

If tropes are in space and time, in what sense are they abstract?

Source

David S. Oderberg (Real Essentialism [2007], 4.5)

Book Ref

Oderberg,David S.: 'Real Essentialism' [Routledge 2009], p.83


A Reaction

I take this to be a conclusive objection to claims for any such thing to be abstract. See, for example, Dummett's claim that the Equator is an abstract object.


The 22 ideas from David S. Oderberg

Leibniz's Law is an essentialist truth [Oderberg]
Realism about possible worlds is circular, since it needs a criterion of 'possible' [Oderberg]
Necessity of identity seems trivial, because it leaves out the real essence [Oderberg]
Rigid designation has at least three essentialist presuppositions [Oderberg]
The Aristotelian view is that numbers depend on (and are abstracted from) other things [Oderberg]
Essentialism is the main account of the unity of objects [Oderberg]
The real essentialist is not merely a scientist [Oderberg]
The reductionism found in scientific essentialism is mistaken [Oderberg]
Definition distinguishes one kind from another, and individuation picks out members of the kind [Oderberg]
Essences are real, about being, knowable, definable and classifiable [Oderberg, by PG]
Nominalism is consistent with individual but not with universal essences [Oderberg]
Essence is the source of a thing's characteristic behaviour [Oderberg]
What makes Parmenidean reality a One rather than a Many? [Oderberg]
Essence is not explanatory but constitutive [Oderberg]
'Animal' is a genus and 'rational' is a specific difference [Oderberg]
Bodies have act and potency, the latter explaining new kinds of existence [Oderberg]
Empiricists gave up 'substance', as unknowable substratum, or reducible to a bundle [Oderberg]
If tropes are in space and time, in what sense are they abstract? [Oderberg]
Being is substantial/accidental, complete/incomplete, necessary/contingent, possible, relative, intrinsic.. [Oderberg]
We need to distinguish the essential from the non-essential powers [Oderberg]
Could we replace essence with collections of powers? [Oderberg]
Properties are not part of an essence, but they flow from it [Oderberg]