more from Jonathan Schaffer

Single Idea 13744

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 7. Abstract/Concrete / a. Abstract/concrete]

Full Idea

My preferred view is that there is only one fundamental entity - the whole concrete cosmos - from which all else exists by abstraction.

Gist of Idea

The cosmos is the only fundamental entity, from which all else exists by abstraction

Source

Jonathan Schaffer (On What Grounds What [2009], 2.1)

Book Reference

'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.361


A Reaction

This looks to me like weak anti-realism - that there are no natural 'joints' in nature - but I don't think Schaffer intends that. I take the joints to be fundamentals, which necessitates that the cosmos has parts. His 'abstraction' is clearly a process.