Single Idea 8321

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 1. Nature of Existence]

Full Idea

One could argue that some abstract objects exist in all possible worlds (e.g. natural numbers) and that abstract objects always depend for their existence upon concrete objects, and conclude that some concrete objects exist in all possible worlds.

Gist of Idea

All possible worlds contain abstracta (e.g. numbers), which means they contain concrete objects

Source

E.J. Lowe (The Possibility of Metaphysics [1998], 12.1)

Book Reference

Lowe,E.J.: 'The Possibility of Metaphysics' [OUP 2001], p.250


A Reaction

We're all in the dark on this one, but I quite like this argument. I can't conceive of a reality that lacks natural numbers, and the truths that accompany them, and I personally think that numbers arise from the patterns of physical reality.