Single Idea 8858

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 1. Nominalism / c. Nominalism about abstracta]

Full Idea

There's a tradition in philosophy of finding 'unexpected objects' in truth-conditions, such as countermodels, possible worlds, functions, numbers, events, sets and properties.

Gist of Idea

Philosophers keep finding unexpected objects, like models, worlds, functions, numbers, events, sets, properties

Source

Stephen Yablo (Apriority and Existence [2000], §02)

Book Reference

'New Essays on the A Priori', ed/tr. Boghossian,P /Peacocke,C [OUP 2000], p.198


A Reaction

This is a very nice perspective on the whole matter of abstract objects. If we find ourselves reluctantly committed to the existence of something which is ontologically peculiar, we should go back to the philosophical drawing-board.

Related Idea

Idea 23630 Only philosophers treat ideas as objects [Reid]