more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 9006

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / b. Nominalism about universals]

Full Idea

One's hypothesis as to there being universals is at bottom just as arbitrary or pragmatic a matter as one's adoption of a new brand of set theory or even a new system of bookkeeping.

Gist of Idea

Commitment to universals is as arbitrary or pragmatic as the adoption of a new system of bookkeeping

Source

Willard Quine (Carnap and Logical Truth [1954], x)

Book Reference

Quine,Willard: 'Ways of Paradox and other essays' [Harvard 1976], p.132


A Reaction

This spells out clearly the strongly pragmatist vein in Quine's thinking.