Combining Texts

Ideas for 'In Defense of Absolute Essentialism', 'Metaphysics: contemporary introduction' and 'The Bhagavad Gita'

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3 ideas

8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 1. Universals
Universals come in hierarchies of generality [Loux]
     Full Idea: Universals come in hierarchies of generality.
     From: Michael J. Loux (Metaphysics: contemporary introduction [1998], p.24)
     A reaction: If it is possible to state facts about universals, this obviously encourages a rather Platonic approach to them, as existent things with properties. But maybe the hierarchies are conventional, not natural.
Austere nominalists insist that the realist's universals lack the requisite independent identifiability [Loux]
     Full Idea: Austere nominalists insist that the realist's universals lack the requisite independent identifiability.
     From: Michael J. Loux (Metaphysics: contemporary introduction [1998], p.60)
     A reaction: Plato's view seems to be that we don't identify universals independently. We ascend The Line, or think about the shadows in The Cave, and infer the universals from an array of particulars (by dialectic).
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / a. Platonic Forms
I am all the beauty and goodness of things, says Krishna [Anon (Bhag)]
     Full Idea: I am the beauty of all things beautiful; ...I am the goodness of those who are good, says Krishna.
     From: Anon (Bhag) (The Bhagavad Gita [c.500 BCE], 10.36)
     A reaction: Another attempt to annexe everything which is admirable to the nature of God. This sounds strikingly Platonic (c.f. Idea 7992, which seems Aristotelian). One scholar dates the text to 150 BCE. I think there is influence, one way or the other.