more from David M. Armstrong

Single Idea 4438

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 6. Mereological Nominalism]

Full Idea

Mereological Nominalism has some plausibility for a case like whiteness, but breaks down completely for other universals, such as squareness.

Clarification

'Mereological' means explaining relationships between parts and whotes

Gist of Idea

'Mereological Nominalism' may work for whiteness, but it doesn't seem to work for squareness

Source

David M. Armstrong (Universals [1995], p.503)

Book Reference

'A Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Kim,Jaegwon/Sosa,Ernest [Blackwell 1995], p.503


A Reaction

A delightful request that you attempt a hopeless feat of imagination, by seeing all squares as parts of one supreme square. A nice objection.