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Single Idea 7015

[from 'From an Ontological Point of View' by John Heil, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 10. Properties as Predicates ]

Full Idea

When a predicate applies truly to an object, it does so in virtue of designating a property possessed by that object and by every object to which the predicate truly applies (or would apply).

Gist of Idea

A predicate applies truly if it picks out a real property of objects

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 03.3)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.26


A Reaction

I am sympathetic to Heil's aim of shifting our attention from arbitrary predicates to natural properties, but it won't avoid Fodor's problem (Idea 7014) that all kinds of whimsical predicates will apply 'truly', but fail to pick out anything significant.

Related Idea

Idea 7014 A particle and a coin heads-or-tails pick out to perfectly well-defined predicates and properties [Fodor]