more from Bob Hale

Single Idea 10514

[catalogued under 9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / a. Nature of abstracta]

Full Idea

If mental events are genuinely non-spatial, but not atemporal, its effect is to classify them as abstract; the distinction between the abstract and the mental simply collapses.

Gist of Idea

If the mental is non-spatial but temporal, then it must be classified as abstract

Source

Bob Hale (Abstract Objects [1987], Ch.3.1)

Book Reference

Hale,Bob: 'Abstract Objects' [Blackwell 1987], p.49


A Reaction

This is important. You can't discuss this sort of metaphysics in isolation from debates about the ontology of mind. Functionalists do treat mental events as abstractions.