Full Idea
Ways things might be are real, but only when abstracted from the actual way things are. They are brought out and distinguished by the mind, by abstraction, but are not dependent on mind for their existence.
Gist of Idea
The mind abstracts ways things might be, which are nonetheless real
Source
Stephen Read (Thinking About Logic [1995], Ch.4)
Book Reference
Read,Stephen: 'Thinking About Logic' [OUP 1995], p.107
A Reaction
To me this just flatly contradicts itself. The idea that the mind can 'bring something out' by its operations, with the result being then accepted as part of reality is nonsense on stilts. What is real is the powers that make the possibilities.