Single Idea 4442

[catalogued under 8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / c. Self-predication]

Full Idea

Modern upholders of universals generally reject self-predication; humanity is not a man, whiteness is not a white thing. This means that the Third Man argument does not constitute a difficulty.

Gist of Idea

Most thinkers now reject self-predication (whiteness is NOT white) so there is no Third Man problem

Source

David M. Armstrong (Universals and Particulars [1995], p.506)

Book Reference

'A Companion to Metaphysics', ed/tr. Kim,Jaegwon/Sosa,Ernest [Blackwell 1995], p.506


A Reaction

This certainly seems right, and is relevant to the modern problem of the content of thought. The idea of a tree does not need to be tree-like.