more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 21633
[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / a. Nominalism
]
Full Idea
The nominalist suspects that properties, relations and states of affairs are mere projections onto the world of our forms of speech. One source of the suspicion is a sense that we could just as well have classified things differently.
Gist of Idea
Nominalists suspect that properties etc are our projections, and could have been different
Source
Timothy Williamson (Vagueness [1994], 9.3)
Book Ref
Williamson,Timothy: 'Vagueness' [Routledge 1996], p.269
A Reaction
I know it is very wicked to say so, but I'm afraid I have some sympathy with this view. But I like the primary/secondary distinction, so there is more 'projection' in the latter case. Classification is not random; it is a response to reality.
The
17 ideas
with the same theme
[general ideas about nominalism]:
15386
|
If only the singular exists, science is impossible, as that relies on true generalities
[Duns Scotus, by Panaccio]
|
15387
|
If things were singular they would only differ numerically, but horse and tulip differ more than that
[Duns Scotus, by Panaccio]
|
16639
|
Only individual bodies exist
[Bacon]
|
8494
|
Obviously 'Socrates is wise' and 'Socrates has wisdom' express the same fact
[Ramsey]
|
10151
|
I am a deeply convinced nominalist
[Tarski]
|
8505
|
Refusal to explain why different tokens are of the same type is to be an ostrich
[Armstrong]
|
18957
|
Nominalism only makes sense if it is materialist
[Putnam]
|
10534
|
'Nominalism' used to mean denial of universals, but now means denial of abstract objects
[Dummett]
|
9880
|
Nominalism assumes unmediated mental contact with objects
[Dummett]
|
11913
|
For nominalists, predicate extensions are inexplicable facts
[Molnar]
|
11962
|
Nominalists only accept first-order logic
[Molnar]
|
10744
|
Nominalism can reject abstractions, or universals, or sets
[Oliver]
|
8961
|
Nominalists are motivated by Ockham's Razor and a distrust of unobservables
[Hoffman/Rosenkrantz]
|
4482
|
Austere nominalism has to take a host of things (like being red, or human) as primitive
[Loux]
|
21633
|
Nominalists suspect that properties etc are our projections, and could have been different
[Williamson]
|
9435
|
A 'porridge' nominalist thinks we just divide reality in any way that suits us
[Mumford]
|
4459
|
Moderate nominalism attempts to embrace the existence of properties while avoiding universals
[Moreland]
|