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Single Idea 18508

[from 'The Universe as We Find It' by John Heil, in 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations ]

Full Idea

It is a measure of how far we have fallen that so few philosophers nowadays see any difficulty at all in the idea that relations have full ontological standing.

Gist of Idea

Most philosophers now (absurdly) believe that relations fully exist

Source

John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 01.4)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.9


A Reaction

We have 'fallen' because medieval metaphysicians didn't believe it. Russell seems to have started, and the tendency to derive ontology from logic has secured the belief in relations. How else can you be allowed to write aRb? I agree with Heil.