Full Idea
I suspend judgement about universals themselves; I only insist that, one way or another, their work must be done.
Gist of Idea
I suspend judgements about universals, but their work must be done
Source
David Lewis (New work for a theory of universals [1983], 'Intro')
Book Reference
'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.188
A Reaction
This seems surprising (but admirable) in a great metaphysician, but I suppose it is symptomatic of the Humean approach to metaphysics. In the light of Ideas 3989 and 3990, I would have expected Lewis to deny universals. He probably did.
Related Ideas
Idea 3989 I am a reductionist about mind because I am an a priori reductionist about everything [Lewis]
Idea 3990 The whole truth supervenes on the physical truth [Lewis]