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Full Idea
A universal is not an object of any sense, and therefore cannot be imagined; but it may be distinctly conceived.
Gist of Idea
Universals are not objects of sense and cannot be imagined - but can be conceived
Source
Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 5: Abstraction [1785], 6)
Book Ref
Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.245
A Reaction
If you try to imagine whiteness, what size is it, and what substance embodies it? Neither are needed to think of whiteness, so Reid is right. A nice observation.
| 11874 | Real identity admits of no degrees [Reid] |
| 23649 | No one thinks two sheets possess a single whiteness, but all agree they are both white [Reid] |
| 23648 | First we notice and name attributes ('abstracting'); then we notice that subjects share them ('generalising') [Reid] |
| 23652 | We must first conceive things before we can consider them [Reid] |
| 23651 | Universals are not objects of sense and cannot be imagined - but can be conceived [Reid] |
| 23650 | Only individuals exist [Reid] |