more from Alex Oliver

Single Idea 10727

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 4. Uninstantiated Universals]

Full Idea

We may have to accept uninstantiated universals because the properties and relations of abstract objects may need to be acknowledged.

Gist of Idea

Uninstantiated universals seem to exist if they themselves have properties

Source

Alex Oliver (The Metaphysics of Properties [1996], §11)

Book Reference

-: 'Mind' [-], p.28


A Reaction

This is the problem of 'abstract reference'. 'Courage matters more than kindness'; 'Pink is more like red than like yellow'. Not an impressive argument. All you need is second-level abstraction.