Single Idea 7041

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / E. Nominalism / 2. Resemblance Nominalism]

Full Idea

Objects are similar by virtue of possessing similar properties; properties, in contrast, are not similar in virtue of anything.

Gist of Idea

Similar objects have similar properties; properties are directly similar

Source

John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 14.2)

Book Reference

Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.152


A Reaction

I am not sure if I can understand the concept of similarity if there is no answer to the question 'In what respect?' I suppose David Hume is happy to take resemblance as given and basic, but it could be defined as 'sharing identical properties'.