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Single Idea 8525
[filed under theme 5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 6. Relations in Logic
]
Full Idea
Because there cannot be relations without terms, in a meta-physic that makes first-order tropes the terms of all relations, relational tropes must belong to a second, derivative order.
Gist of Idea
Relations need terms, so they must be second-order entities based on first-order tropes
Source
Keith Campbell (The Metaphysic of Abstract Particulars [1981], §8)
Book Ref
'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.138
A Reaction
The admission that there could be a 'derivative order' may lead to trouble for trope theory. Ostrich Nominalists could say that properties themselves are derivative second-order abstractions from indivisible particulars. Russell makes them first-order.
The
14 ideas
from 'The Metaphysic of Abstract Particulars'
8513
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Two red cloths are separate instances of redness, because you can dye one of them blue
[Campbell,K]
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8514
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Red could only recur in a variety of objects if it was many, which makes them particulars
[Campbell,K]
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8512
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Abstractions come before the mind by concentrating on a part of what is presented
[Campbell,K]
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8515
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Tropes are basic particulars, so concrete particulars are collections of co-located tropes
[Campbell,K]
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8518
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Events are trope-sequences, in which tropes replace one another
[Campbell,K]
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8517
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Causal conditions are particular abstract instances of properties, which makes them tropes
[Campbell,K]
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8516
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Davidson can't explain causation entirely by events, because conditions are also involved
[Campbell,K]
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8519
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Bundles must be unique, so the Identity of Indiscernibles is a necessity - which it isn't!
[Campbell,K]
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4033
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Two pure spheres in non-absolute space are identical but indiscernible
[Campbell,K]
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8522
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Tropes solve the Companionship Difficulty, since the resemblance is only between abstract particulars
[Campbell,K]
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8523
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Tropes solve the Imperfect Community problem, as they can only resemble in one respect
[Campbell,K]
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8521
|
Nominalism has the problem that without humans nothing would resemble anything else
[Campbell,K]
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8524
|
Trope theory makes space central to reality, as tropes must have a shape and size
[Campbell,K]
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8525
|
Relations need terms, so they must be second-order entities based on first-order tropes
[Campbell,K]
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