Single Idea 8574

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 5. Class Nominalism]

Full Idea

Moderate Class Nominalism and Resemblance Nominalism (in its present form) seem to me to be a single theory presented in different styles.

Gist of Idea

Class Nominalism and Resemblance Nominalism are pretty much the same

Source

David Lewis (New work for a theory of universals [1983], 'Un and Prop' n9)

Book Reference

'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.194


A Reaction

Lewis has earlier endorsed a cautious form of Class Nominalism (Idea 8570). Which comes first, having a resemblance, or being in a class? Quine seems to make resemblance basic (Idea 8486), but Lewis seems to make the class basic (Idea 8572).

Related Ideas

Idea 8570 To have a property is to be a member of a class, usually a class of things [Lewis]

Idea 8486 Standards of similarity are innate, and the spacing of qualities such as colours can be mapped [Quine]

Idea 8572 Any class of things is a property, no matter how whimsical or irrelevant [Lewis]