Single Idea 19173

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets]

Full Idea

'Theaetetus is a member of the set of seated objects' doesn't mention the predicate 'sits', but has a new predicate 'is a member of', with no given semantic role. We are back with Plato's problem with the predicate 'instantiates'.

Gist of Idea

Treating predicates as sets drops the predicate for a new predicate 'is a member of', which is no help

Source

Donald Davidson (Truth and Predication [2005], 7)

Book Reference

Davidson,Donald: 'Truth and Predication' [Belknap Harvard 2005], p.158


A Reaction

Plato's problem is the 'third man' problem - a regress in the explanation. In other words, if we are trying to explain predication, treating predicates as sets gets us nowhere. Just as I always thought. But you have to want explanations.