Substance and Attribute A Study in Ontology

In this book I address a dichotomy that is as central as any in ontology - that between ordinary objects or substances and the various attributes (Le. , properties, kinds, and relations) we associate with them. My aim is to arrive at the correct philosoph

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PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES SERIES IN PHILOSOPHY Editors: WILFRID SELLARS, University of Pittsburgh KEITH LEHRER, University of Arizona

Board ofCon~ulting Editors: JONATHAN BENNETT, University of British Columbia ALAN GIBBARD, University of Pittsburgh ROBERT STALNAKER, Cornell University ROBERT G. TURNBULL, Ohio State University

VOLUME 14

MICHAEL J. LOUX The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana

SUBSTANCE AND ATTRIBUTE A Study in Ontology

D. REIDEL PUBLISHING COMPANY DORDRECHT : HOLLAND / BOSTON: U.S.A. LONDON: ENGLAND

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Loux, Michael J. Substance and attribute (Philosophical studies series in philosophy: v. 14) Includes bibliographical references and index. I. Attribute (Philosophy) 2. Universals (Philosophy) 3. Substance (Philosophy) 4. Ontology. I. Title. BD352.L68 III 78-12989 ISBN-13: 97X-90-277-0955-4 e-ISBN-13: 97X-94-009-9874-2 DOl: 10.10007/978-94-009-9874-2

Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company, P.O. Box 17, Dordrecht, Holland

Sold and distribu ted in the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Inc. Lincoln Building, 160 Old Derby Street, Hingham, Mass. 02043, U.S.A.

All Rights Reserved Copyright © 1978 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland

Softcover reprint of the hardcover I st edition 1978 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner

TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ix

FOREWORD

PART ONE: ATTRIBUTES CHAPTER ONE / ATTRIBUTE-AGREEMENT AND THE PROBLEM OF UNIVERSALS

I. II.

Attribute-Agreement: Three Interpretations Attribute-Agreement: The Nature of the Debate

CHAPTER TWO / PREDICATION AND UNIVERSALS

I. II. III. IV. V. VI.

Realism and Predication Alleged Counter-Examples to (I) The Alleged Circularity of (I) (I) and Infinite Regresses The Reference of Predicate-Terms The Truth of Subject-Predicate Discourse

CHAPTER THREE / RESEMBLANCE AND UNIVERSALS

I. II. III.

The Alleged Non-Eliminability of Resemblance The Alleged Incompleteness of Resemblance-Claims The Ground of Resemblance

CHAPTER FOUR / ABSTRACT REFERENCE AND UNIVERSALS

I. II. III. IV. V. VI.

Higher Level Quantification Abstract Singular Terms Extreme Nominalism and Abstract Singular Terms Nominalism and Abstract Singular Terms The Metalinguistic Interpretation of Abstract Singular Terms Conclusion

CHAPTER FIVE / TOWARDS A REALISTIC ONTOLOGY

I. II. III.

The Existence of Universals Universals as Necessary Beings More Platonism

3 3 8 13 13 15 21 22 27 33 44 44 47 49 S4 S4 61 6S 73 77 86

89 89 92 96

T ABLE OF CONTENTS

viii

IV. V. VI.

The Identity-Conditions for Universals How Many Universals Are There? Conclusion

99 101 102

pART TWO: SUBSTANCES CHAPTER SIX / TWO THEORIES OF SUBSTANCE

I. II. III.

Bare Substrata Bundles, Clusters, and Collections Problems in the Bundle Theory: Bar