Single Idea 14216

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 1. Nature of Relations]

Full Idea

The 'positionalist' view of relations is that each relation is taken to be endowed with a given number of argument places, or positions, in no specified order. [...The argument-places are specific entities, such as 'lover' and 'beloved']

Gist of Idea

The 'positionalist' view of relations says the number of places is fixed, but not the order

Source

Kit Fine (Neutral Relations [2000], Intro)

Book Reference

-: 'Philosophical Review' [-], p.1


A Reaction

Fine offers this as an alternative to the 'standard' view of relations, in which the order of the objects matters. He then adds, and favours, the 'anti-positionalist' view, where there are not even a fixed number of places.

Related Idea

Idea 14217 The 'standard' view of relations is that they hold of several objects in a given order [Fine,K]