Single Idea 4427

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 2. Need for Universals]

Full Idea

No sentence can be made up without at least one word which denotes a universal. ..Thus all truths involve universals, and all knowledge of truths involves acquaintance with universals.

Gist of Idea

Every sentence contains at least one word denoting a universal, so we need universals to know truth

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 9)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.53


A Reaction

Sounds right, and is a beautifully neat way of showing the connection between metaphysics and life.