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Full Idea
Concrete objects possess causal powers and relations, but abstract objects are incapable of having causal powers or relations.
Gist of Idea
Concrete and abstract objects are distinct because the former have causal powers and relations
Source
E.J. Lowe (A Survey of Metaphysics [2002], p.368)
Book Ref
Lowe,E.J.: 'A Survey of Metaphysics' [OUP 2002], p.368
A Reaction
Is this an observation or a definition? One might claim that an abstraction (such as a political ideal) can acquire causal power through a conscious mnd.
| 4039 | Abstractions lack causes, effects and spatio-temporal locations [Mellor/Oliver] |
| 4237 | Concrete and abstract objects are distinct because the former have causal powers and relations [Lowe] |
| 4238 | The centre of mass of the solar system is a non-causal abstract object, despite having a location [Lowe] |
| 8912 | Nowadays abstractions are defined as non-spatial, causally inert things [Rosen] |
| 8913 | Chess may be abstract, but it has existed in specific space and time [Rosen] |
| 8914 | Sets are said to be abstract and non-spatial, but a set of books can be on a shelf [Rosen] |
| 8955 | Abstractions are imperceptible, non-causal, and non-spatiotemporal (the third explaining the others) [Szabó] |