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Single Idea 14592

[filed under theme 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 4. Abstract Existence ]

Full Idea

Many things that seem to be abstract also seem to have a beginning (and ending) in time, such as a language like Urdu. It may be tempting to say that such things exist in time but not in space, but where exactly?

Gist of Idea

Some abstract things have a beginning and end, so may exist in time (though not space)

Source

Chris Swoyer (Abstract Entities [2008], 1.1)

Book Ref

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.14


A Reaction

A few distinctions might be needed. Urdu-speaking is an ability of certain people. We abstract from that their 'language'. There is nothing there apart from that ability. It has no more abstract existence than the 'weather'.


The 4 ideas from 'Abstract Entities'

Some abstract things have a beginning and end, so may exist in time (though not space) [Swoyer]
Quantum field theory suggests that there are, fundamentally, no individual things [Swoyer]
Ontologists seek existence and identity conditions, and modal and epistemic status for a thing [Swoyer]
Can properties exemplify other properties? [Swoyer]