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Single Idea 9495

[from 'Nature's Metaphysics' by Alexander Bird, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 6. Categorical Properties ]

Full Idea

The possibility of abstract definition does not show that we have defined a property that we can know, independently of any theory, that it is physically possible for some object to possess.

Gist of Idea

If we abstractly define a property, that doesn't mean some object could possess it

Source

Alexander Bird (Nature's Metaphysics [2007], 4.2.3.1)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Nature's Metaphysics' [OUP 2007], p.81


A Reaction

This is a naturalist resisting the idea that there is no more to a property than set-membership. I strongly agree. We need a firm notion of properties as features of the actual world; anything else should be called something like 'categorisations'.