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Single Idea 9657

[from 'On the Plurality of Worlds' by David Lewis, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 13. Tropes / a. Nature of tropes ]

Full Idea

If you will not countenance primitive similarity in any form, then trope theory is not for you. But if you will, then duplication of tropes is an especially satisfactory form of primitive similarity to take.

Gist of Idea

You must accept primitive similarity to like tropes, but tropes give a good account of it

Source

David Lewis (On the Plurality of Worlds [1986], 1.5)

Book Reference

Lewis,David: 'On the Plurality of Worlds' [Blackwell 2001], p.66


A Reaction

This presents the question about tropes in a beautifully simple form. Perfect similarities seem fine, but partial similarities (red and pink things) are hard, and abstract reference (pinkness and redness) is even harder.