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Single Idea 14598

[from 'There Are No Abstract Objects' by Cian Dorr, in 10. Modality / A. Necessity / 11. Denial of Necessity ]

Full Idea

If there are abstract objects, there are necessary truths about these things that cannot be reduced to truths of logic. So only the nominalist, who denies that there are any such things, can adequately respect the idea that there are no brute necessities.

Gist of Idea

Abstracta imply non-logical brute necessities, so only nominalists can deny such things

Source

Cian Dorr (There Are No Abstract Objects [2008], 4)

Book Reference

'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.53


A Reaction

This is where two plates of my personal philosophy grind horribly against one another. I love nominalism, and I love natural necessities. They meet like a ring-species in evolution. I'll just call it a 'paradox', and move on (swiftly).