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Single Idea 4434

[from 'Universals' by David M. Armstrong, in 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 5. Class Nominalism ]

Full Idea

Class Nominalists substitute classes or sets for properties or kinds, so that being white is just being a member of the set of white things; relations are treated as ordered sets.

Gist of Idea

'Class Nominalism' says that properties or kinds are merely membership of a set (e.g. of white things)

Source

David M. Armstrong (Universals [1995], p.503)

Book Reference

'A Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Kim,Jaegwon/Sosa,Ernest [Blackwell 1995], p.503


A Reaction

This immediately seems wrong, because it invites the question of why something is a member of a set (unless membership is arbitrary and whimsical - which it usually isn't).