Single Idea 7036

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / F. Chemistry / 2. Modern Elements]

Full Idea

I am sympathetic to the idea that the real properties are 'sparse'; ...but if, in counting kinds of property, we include complex properties as well as simple properties, the image of sparseness evaporates.

Gist of Idea

The real natural properties are sparse, but there are many complex properties

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 13.4)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.142


A Reaction

This seems right to me, and invites the obvious question of which are the sparse real properties. Presumably we let the physicists tell us that, though Heil wants to include qualities like phenomenal colour, which physicists ignore.