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Single Idea 17669

[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals ]

Full Idea

A Realistic version of a Regularity theory of laws will have to postulate universals. How else will it be possible to say that the different instances of a certain uniformity are all instances of objectively the same phenomenon?

Gist of Idea

Realist regularity theories of laws need universals, to pick out the same phenomena

Source

David M. Armstrong (What is a Law of Nature? [1983], 02.4)

Book Ref

Armstrong,D.M.: 'What is a Law of Nature?' [CUP 1985], p.16

A Reaction

I disagree. We may (or may not) need properties, but they can be have a range. We just need stable language. We use one word 'red', even when the shade of redness varies. Non-realists presumably refer to sense-data.

Related Ideas

Idea 223 If you deny that each thing always stays the same, you destroy the possibility of discussion [Plato]

Idea 227 You must always mean the same thing when you utter the same name [Plato]

The 25 ideas with the same theme [things which only universals seem to explain]:

223 If you deny that each thing always stays the same, you destroy the possibility of discussion [Plato]
227 You must always mean the same thing when you utter the same name [Plato]
153 It takes a person to understand, by using universals, and by using reason to create a unity out of sense-impressions [Plato]
2142 The plurality of beautiful things must belong to a single class, because they have a single particular character [Plato]
649 The acquisition of scientific knowledge is impossible without universals [Aristotle]
1675 Separate Forms aren't needed for logic, but universals (one holding of many) are essential [Aristotle]
21710 We know a universal in 'yellow differs from blue' or 'yellow resembles blue less than green does' [Russell]
4030 Russell claims that universals are needed to explain a priori knowledge (as their relations) [Russell, by Mellor/Oliver]
4427 Every sentence contains at least one word denoting a universal, so we need universals to know truth [Russell]
3751 Universals are acceptable if they are needed to make an accepted theory true [Quine, by Jacquette]
4032 The problem of universals is how many particulars can all be of the same 'type' [Armstrong]
8539 Universals are required to give a satisfactory account of the laws of nature [Armstrong]
10729 Universals explain resemblance and causal power [Armstrong, by Oliver]
17669 Realist regularity theories of laws need universals, to pick out the same phenomena [Armstrong]
9485 Universals concern how things are, and how they could be [Shoemaker, by Bird]
8566 We need universals for causation and laws of nature; the latter give them their identity [Mellor]
15436 Universals are meant to give an account of resemblance [Lewis]
21961 Physics aims to discover which universals actually exist [Lewis, by Moore,AW]
7034 Universals explain one-over-many relations, and similar qualities, and similar behaviour [Heil]
8293 Real universals are needed to explain laws of nature [Lowe]
4450 The traditional problem of universals centres on the "One over Many", which is the unity of natural classes [Moreland]
4449 Evidence for universals can be found in language, communication, natural laws, classification and ideals [Moreland]
16260 Existence of universals may just be decided by acceptance, or not, of second-order logic [Maudlin]
7951 Numerical sameness is explained by theories of identity, but what explains qualitative identity? [Macdonald,C]
22134 Thoughts are general, but the world isn't, so how can we think accurately? [Boulter]