Full Idea
Uninstantiated properties and relations may do some useful philosophical work.
Clarification
'Uninstantiated' means there are no actual cases
Gist of Idea
Uninstantiated properties are useful in philosophy
Source
Alex Oliver (The Metaphysics of Properties [1996], §11), quoted by Cynthia Macdonald - Varieties of Things
Book Reference
Macdonald,Cynthia: 'Varieties of Things' [Blackwell 2005], p.238
A Reaction
Their value isn't just philosophical; hopes and speculations depend on them. This doesn't make universals mind-independent. I think the secret is a clear understanding of the word 'abstract' (which I don't have).