more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
In his mature nominalism, species and genera are identified with certain mental qualities called concepts or intentions of the mind. Ontologically they are individuals too, like everthing else, ...but they naturally signify many different individuals.
Gist of Idea
Species and genera are individual concepts which naturally signify many individuals
Source
William of Ockham (works [1335]), quoted by Claude Panaccio - William of Ockham p.1056
Book Ref
'Shorter Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Craig,Edward [Routledge 2005], p.1056
A Reaction
'Naturally' is the key word, because the concepts are not fictions, but natural responses to encountering individuals in the world. I am an Ockhamist.
| 6806 | Do not multiply entities beyond necessity [William of Ockham] |
| 22132 | Species and genera are individual concepts which naturally signify many individuals [William of Ockham] |
| 8010 | William of Ockham is the main spokesman for God's commands being the source of morality [William of Ockham] |
| 16679 | Even an angel must have some location [William of Ockham, by Pasnau] |
| 19381 | The past has ceased to exist, and the future does not yet exist, so time does not exist [William of Ockham] |