Ideas from 'Modes of Extension: comment on Fine' by Peter Simons [2008], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Being: Developments in Contemporary Metaphysics' (ed/tr Le Poidevin,R) [CUP 2008,978-0-521-73544-5]].

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18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 7. Abstracta by Equivalence
Any equivalence relation among similar things allows the creation of an abstractum
                        Full Idea: Whenever we have an equivalence relation among things - such as similarity in a certain respect - we can abstract under the equivalence and consider the abstractum.
                        From: Peter Simons (Modes of Extension: comment on Fine [2008], p.19)
                        A reaction: This strikes me as dressing up old-fashioned psychological abstractionism in the respectable clothing of Fregean equivalences (such as 'directions'). We can actually do what Simons wants without the precision of partitioned equivalence classes.
Abstraction is usually seen as producing universals and numbers, but it can do more
                        Full Idea: Abstraction as a cognitive tool has been associated predominantly with the metaphysics of universals and of mathematical objects such as numbers. But it is more widely applicable beyond this standard range. I commend its judicious use.
                        From: Peter Simons (Modes of Extension: comment on Fine [2008], p.21)
                        A reaction: Personally I think our view of the world is founded on three psychological principles: abstraction, idealisation and generalisation. You can try to give them rigour, as 'equivalence classes', or 'universal quantifications', if it makes you feel better.