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Single Idea 14499

[from 'New work for a theory of universals' by David Lewis, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets ]

Full Idea

Lewis has a preference for a nominalist conception of properties as classes of possible and actual concrete particulars.

Gist of Idea

Properties are classes of possible and actual concrete particulars

Source

report of David Lewis (New work for a theory of universals [1983]) by Kathrin Koslicki - The Structure of Objects II.3

Book Reference

Koslicki,Kathrin: 'The Structure of Objects' [OUP 2008], p.29


A Reaction

I'm sympathetic to nominalism, but still can't swallow the idea that a property like redness is nothing more than a collection of particulars, the red things. This class will include all sorts of non-red features.