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Single Idea 15750

[from 'On the Plurality of Worlds' by David Lewis, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes ]

Full Idea

Trope theory cannot analyse similarity, because duplication of tropes is itself a primitive relation of similarity.

Gist of Idea

Tropes need a similarity primitive, so they cannot be used to explain similarity

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.65


A Reaction

A reasonable reply to this one, I think, is that no one can explain or analyse similarity. To say that the same universal (or bunch of graded universals) is instantiated explains nothing. Maybe type-identity must be primitive in any theory?

Related Idea

Idea 15749 Trope theory (unlike universals) needs a primitive notion of being duplicates [Lewis]