Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Content Preservation', 'Science without Numbers' and 'Philebus'

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3 ideas

9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 2. Abstract Objects / d. Problems with abstracta

18213	Abstract objects are only applicable to the world if they are impure, and connect to the physical [Field,H]
	Full Idea: To be able to apply any postulated abstract entities to the physical world, we need impure abstact entities, e.g. functions that map physical objects into pure abstract objects.
	From: Hartry Field (Science without Numbers [1980], 1)
	A reaction: I am a fan of 'impure metaphysics', and this pinpoints my reason very nicely.

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / c. Unity as conceptual

15856	A thing can become one or many, depending on how we talk about it [Plato]
	Full Idea: It is through discourse that the same thing flits around, becoming one and many in all sorts of ways.
	From: Plato (Philebus [c.353 BCE], 15d)
	A reaction: This is not scepticism about wholes on Plato's part, but a reminder of an obvious fact, that in thought we can break the world up and put it back together again. It is a touchstone of the debate, though.

9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 5. Composition of an Object

374	If one object is divided into its parts, someone can then say that one are many and many is one [Plato]
	Full Idea: Someone can theoretically divide an object into constituent parts, concede that they are one object, and then claim that therefore the one is many and the many are one.
	From: Plato (Philebus [c.353 BCE], 14e)