JohnS wrote: "Perhaps. But we can't predict the future." (01)
John, could you clarify that? It seems that we do successfully predict
the future. (02)
-John Bottoms
FirstStar Systems
Concord, MA USA (03)
> On 6/29/2012 7:50 AM, Avril Styrman wrote:
>> D.M. Armstrong uses the term 'universal' for properties which have been,
>> are, or will be instantiated. This is a good convention that separates
>> uninstantiated properties from the instantiated ones.
> Perhaps. But we can't predict the future. Some definitions can be
> contradictory, such as a round square. Therefore, we can safely say
> that they will never be instantiated.
>
> But there is no way to tell whether some consistent property,
> such as 'golden mountain', might be instantiated somewhere in the
> universe.
>
> I realize that there has been a huge literature about universals and
> particulars over the centuries. And many of the texts have interesting
> insights. But for practical ontology, I would recommend against using
> the words 'universal' and 'particular'.
>
> If you're going to represent the ontology in some version of logic,
> every useful distinction can be discussed in terms of that logic.
> If you have the words 'relation' and 'instance' for talking about
> the logic, you don't need the words 'universal' and 'particular'
> for talking about any ontology expressed in that logic.
>
> Basic point: If your logic can't express some distinction, then
> don't confuse your students with terminology that is irrelevant
> to anything that they can express -- except perhaps in a little
> historical background that you tell them "won't be on the test."
>
> John
>
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