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Single Idea 7960

[from 'Varieties of Things' by Cynthia Macdonald, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / b. Critique of tropes ]

Full Idea

Of all the nominalist solutions, Trope Nominalism is the only one that tries to solve the problem at issue by introducing entities; all the others try to get by with concrete particulars and sets of them. This might invite Ockham's Razor.

Clarification

'Ockham's Razor' eliminates what is inessential

Gist of Idea

Trope Nominalism is the only nominalism to introduce new entities, inviting Ockham's Razor

Source

Cynthia Macdonald (Varieties of Things [2005], Ch.6)

Book Reference

Macdonald,Cynthia: 'Varieties of Things' [Blackwell 2005], p.236


A Reaction

We could reply that tropes are necessities. The issue seems to be a key one, which is whether our fundamental onotology should include properties (in some form or other). I am inclined to exclude them (Ideas 3322, 3906, 4029).

Related Ideas

Idea 3322 Quine says that if second-order logic is to quantify over properties, that can be done in first-order predicate logic [Quine, by Benardete,JA]

Idea 3906 If possible worlds are needed to define properties, maybe we should abandon properties [Scruton]

Idea 4029 Nominalists ask why we should postulate properties at all [Mellor/Oliver]