Our systems are now restored following recent technical disruption, and we’re working hard to catch up on publishing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Find out more

Recommended product

Popular links

Popular links


A Theory of Universals

A Theory of Universals

A Theory of Universals

Universals and Scientific Realism
Volume 2:
D. M. Armstrong, University of Sydney
December 1980
2
Available
Paperback
9780521280327
AUD$44.95
inc GST
Paperback

    This is a study, in two volumes, of one of the longest-standing philosophical problems: the problem of universals. In volume I David Armstrong surveys and criticizes the main approaches and solutions to the problems that have been canvassed, rejecting the various forms of nominalism and 'Platonic' realism. In volume II he develops an important theory of his own, an objective theory of universals based not on linguistic conventions, but on the actual and potential findings of natural science. He thus reconciles a realism about qualities and relations with an empiricist epistemology. The theory allows, too, for a convincing explanation of natural laws as relations between these universals.

    Product details

    December 1980
    Paperback
    9780521280327
    200 pages
    229 × 152 × 16 mm
    0.47kg
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • The argument of Volume I
    • Part IV. Predicates and Universals:
    • 13. Relations between predicates and universals
    • 14. Rejection of disjunctive and negative universals
    • 15. Acceptance of conjunctive universals
    • 16. The identification of universals
    • 17. Different semantic correlations between predicates and universals
    • 18. Properties
    • 19. Relations
    • Part VI. The Analysis of Resemblance:
    • 20. The resemblance of particulars
    • 21. The resemblance of universals (I): criticism of received accounts
    • 22. The resemblance of universals (II): a new account
    • Part VII. Higher-Order Universals:
    • 23. Higher-order properties
    • 24. Higher-order relations
    • Conclusion
    • Glossary
    • Indices.
      Author
    • D. M. Armstrong , University of Sydney