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Single Idea 4034

[from 'Properties' by David M. Armstrong, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 10. Properties as Predicates ]

Full Idea

Evading properties by means of predicates is implausible when things change. If a cold thing becomes hot, first 'cold' applies, and then 'hot', but what have predicates to do with the temperature of an object?

Clarification

The claim is that properties are in nature, not in language

Gist of Idea

Whether we apply 'cold' or 'hot' to an object is quite separate from its change of temperature

Source

David M. Armstrong (Properties [1992], §1)

Book Reference

'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.161


A Reaction

A clear illustration of why properties are part of nature, not just part of language. But some applications of predicates are more arbitrary than this (ugly, cool)