
Published:
21 March 2024
Online ISBN:
9780191915765
Print ISBN:
9780192894885
Contents
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1 Partial-Functions Type Theory 1 Partial-Functions Type Theory
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2 Fregean Realism 2 Fregean Realism
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2.1 What is Fregean Realism? 2.1 What is Fregean Realism?
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2.2 Against the Abductive Argument for Fregean Realism 2.2 Against the Abductive Argument for Fregean Realism
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2.3 The Disquotation Argument for Fregean Realism 2.3 The Disquotation Argument for Fregean Realism
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3 Universals and Nominalization 3 Universals and Nominalization
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3.1 Fictionalism about Universals 3.1 Fictionalism about Universals
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3.2 Motivating Fictionalism: Representational Aids 3.2 Motivating Fictionalism: Representational Aids
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3.3 Motivating Fictionalism: Philosophical Puzzles 3.3 Motivating Fictionalism: Philosophical Puzzles
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3.4 Motivating Fictionalism: Cantor’s Theorem 3.4 Motivating Fictionalism: Cantor’s Theorem
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4 A Formal Theory of Universals 4 A Formal Theory of Universals
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4.1 Restricting to Real Entities 4.1 Restricting to Real Entities
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4.2 Nominalization and Application Theory, NAT 4.2 Nominalization and Application Theory, NAT
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4.3 Definable Notions and Richer Fictions 4.3 Definable Notions and Richer Fictions
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5 Fictionalism 5 Fictionalism
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6 Some Simple Applications 6 Some Simple Applications
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6.1 On Virtues 6.1 On Virtues
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6.2 Reverse-Engineering Fictions 6.2 Reverse-Engineering Fictions
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6.3 Instantiation 6.3 Instantiation
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6.4 Propositions 6.4 Propositions
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7 Bridge-Principles 7 Bridge-Principles
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7.1 Mixed-Predication 7.1 Mixed-Predication
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7.2 Licensing the Use of Bridge-Principles 7.2 Licensing the Use of Bridge-Principles
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7.3 Pseudo-Self-Predication 7.3 Pseudo-Self-Predication
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8 Limits of the Fiction 8 Limits of the Fiction
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9 Conclusion 9 Conclusion
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Appendix Appendix
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A PFTT’s Deductive System A PFTT’s Deductive System
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A.1 PFTT’s Grammar A.1 PFTT’s Grammar
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A.2 Handling Empty Terms A.2 Handling Empty Terms
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A.3 PFTT’s Natural Deduction System A.3 PFTT’s Natural Deduction System
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A.4 Henkin Semantics for PFTT A.4 Henkin Semantics for PFTT
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A.5 Fineness of Grain in PFTT A.5 Fineness of Grain in PFTT
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B The Fictional Theory B The Fictional Theory
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C Conservativeness C Conservativeness
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D Richer Conservative Fictions D Richer Conservative Fictions
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E Bridge-Principles E Bridge-Principles
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Bibliography Bibliography
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Chapter
7 A Fictionalist Theory of Universals
Get access
Pages
245–290
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Published:March 2024
Cite
Tim, Button, and Trueman Robert, 'A Fictionalist Theory of Universals', in Peter Fritz, and Nicholas K. Jones (eds), Higher-Order Metaphysics (Oxford , 2024; online edn, Oxford Academic, 21 Mar. 2024), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192894885.003.0007, accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Abstract
Universals are putative objects like wisdom, morality, redness, etc. Although we believe in properties (which, we argue, are not a kind of object), we do not believe in universals. However, a number of ordinary, natural language constructions seem to commit us to their existence. In this paper, we provide a fictionalist theory of universals, which allows us to speak as if universals existed, whilst denying that any really do.
Keywords:
Universals, Nominalization, Fictionalism, Properties, Propositions, Fregean Realism, Type Theory
Collection:
Oxford Scholarship Online
Peter Fritz and Nicholas K. Jones, Higher-Order Metaphysics: An Introduction In: Higher-Order Metaphysics. Edited by: Peter Fritz and Nicholas K. Jones, Oxford University Press. © Peter Fritz and Nicholas K. Jones 2024. DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780192894885.003.0007
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