Single Idea 11176

[catalogued under 5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 3. Property (λ-) Abstraction]

Full Idea

According to the principle of Property Abstraction, there is, for any suitable condition, a property that is possessed by an object just in case it conforms to the condition. This is usually taken to be a second-order logical truth.

Gist of Idea

The property of Property Abstraction says any suitable condition must imply a property

Source

Kit Fine (Senses of Essence [1995], §4)

Book Reference

'Modality, Morality and Belief', ed/tr. Sinnott-Armstrong/Raffman/Asher [CUP 1995], p.60


A Reaction

Fine objects that it is implied that if Socrates is essentially a man, then he essentially has the property of being a man. Like Fine, I think this conclusion is distasteful. A classification is not a property, at least the way most people use 'property'.