more from Robert C. Stalnaker

Single Idea 16471

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 10. Properties as Predicates]

Full Idea

I myself am prepared to accept higher-order properties and relations. There is the property of being Socrates, …and the property of being the property of being Socrates, ..and so on.

Gist of Idea

I accept a hierarchy of properties of properties of properties

Source

Robert C. Stalnaker (Mere Possibilities [2012], 4.4)

Book Reference

Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Mere Possibilities' [Princeton 2012], p.118


A Reaction

Elsewhere I have quoted such a hierarchy of vacuous properties as an absurdity that arises if all predicates are treated as properties. Logicians can live with such stuff, given their set hierarchy and so on, but in science and life this is a nonsense.