The Problem of Universals in Contemporary Philosophy

This book provides a critical, up-to-date and original overview of the contemporary metaphysical debate on the problem of universals.

Gabriele Galluzzo (Edited by), Michael J. Loux (Edited by)

9781107498341, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 March 2018

241 pages
22.4 x 15 x 1.4 cm, 0.37 kg

Are there any universal entities? Or is the world populated only by particular things? The problem of universals is one of the most fascinating and enduring topics in the history of metaphysics, with roots in ancient and medieval philosophy. This collection of new essays provides an innovative overview of the contemporary debate on universals. Rather than focusing exclusively on the traditional opposition between realism and nominalism, the contributors explore the complexity of the debate and illustrate a broad range of positions within both the realist and the nominalist camps. Realism is viewed through the lens of the distinction between constituent and relational ontologies, while nominalism is reconstructed in light of the controversy over the notion of trope. The result is a fresh picture of contemporary metaphysics, in which traditional strategies of dealing with the problem of universals are both reaffirmed and called into question.

Introduction Gabriele Galluzzo and Michael J. Loux
1. An exercise in constituent ontology Michael J. Loux
2. Against ontological structure Peter Van Inwagen
3. In defense of substantial universals E. J. Lowe
4. A kind farewell to Platonism: for an Aristotelian understanding of kinds and properties Gabriele Galluzzo
5. Universals in a world of particulars John Heil
6. Is trope theory a divided house? Robert K. Garcia
7. Tropes and the generality of laws Sophie Gibb
8. On the origins of order: non-symmetric or only symmetric relation? Fraser MacBride
9. States of affairs and the relation regress Anna-Sofia Maurin.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of mathematics [PBB], Mathematics [PB], Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge [HPK], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Analytical philosophy & Logical Positivism [HPCF5], Western philosophy, from c 1900 - [HPCF], Western philosophy: Medieval & Renaissance, c 500 to c 1600 [HPCB], Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], Philosophy [HP], Philosophy of language [CFA]