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Single Idea 4473

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / h. Presentism ]

Full Idea

'Presentism' is the view that only the present moment exists.

Gist of Idea

'Presentism' is the view that only the present moment exists

Source

J.P. Moreland (Universals [2001], Ch.6)

Book Ref

Moreland,J.P.: 'Universals' [Acumen 2001], p.133


A Reaction

And Greek scepticism doubted even the present, since there is no space between past and future. It is a delightfully vertigo-inducing idea.


The 24 ideas from J.P. Moreland

If properties are universals, what distinguishes two things which have identical properties? [Moreland]
The traditional problem of universals centres on the "One over Many", which is the unity of natural classes [Moreland]
One realism is one-over-many, which may be the model/copy view, which has the Third Man problem [Moreland]
Evidence for universals can be found in language, communication, natural laws, classification and ideals [Moreland]
The One-In-Many view says universals have abstract existence, but exist in particulars [Moreland]
Maybe universals are real, if properties themselves have properties, and relate to other properties [Moreland]
Moderate nominalism attempts to embrace the existence of properties while avoiding universals [Moreland]
Unlike Class Nominalism, Resemblance Nominalism can distinguish natural from unnatural classes [Moreland]
There can be predicates with no property, and there are properties with no predicate [Moreland]
Epistemological Ockham's Razor demands good reasons, but the ontological version says reality is simple [Moreland]
It is always open to a philosopher to claim that some entity or other is unanalysable [Moreland]
Abstractions are formed by the mind when it concentrates on some, but not all, the features of a thing [Moreland]
Tropes are like Hume's 'impressions', conceived as real rather than as ideal [Moreland]
A colour-trope cannot be simple (as required), because it is spread in space, and so it is complex [Moreland]
In 'four colours were used in the decoration', colours appear to be universals, not tropes [Moreland]
Realists see properties as universals, which are single abstract entities which are multiply exemplifiable [Moreland]
A naturalist and realist about universals is forced to say redness can be both moving and stationary [Moreland]
There are spatial facts about red particulars, but not about redness itself [Moreland]
How could 'being even', or 'being a father', or a musical interval, exist naturally in space? [Moreland]
We should abandon the concept of a property since (unlike sets) their identity conditions are unclear [Moreland]
Existence theories must match experience, possibility, logic and knowledge, and not be self-defeating [Moreland]
Redness is independent of red things, can do without them, has its own properties, and has identity [Moreland]
'Presentism' is the view that only the present moment exists [Moreland]
Most philosophers think that the identity of indiscernibles is false [Moreland]