Existence a second order property or not?

Walter Pound January 15, 2019 at 15:38 2225 views 4 comments

http://krmcdani.mysite.syr.edu/xnum.pdf

Frege argued that existence was a second order property and I was curious to know if there was anyone today that challenged this. Prof. McDaniel argues that it is not and tries to refute an argument made by CJF Williams.

I honestly have a hard time making a decision on whether it is or it isn't and I would love to read what you guys think.

Comments (4)

Deleted User January 15, 2019 at 22:04 #246485 0 likes

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Walter Pound January 15, 2019 at 22:07 #246486 0 likes

Reply to tim wood I don't have an opinion here. I am totally neutral.

Deleted User January 15, 2019 at 22:26 #246501 0 likes

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Terrapin Station January 16, 2019 at 14:29 #246654 0 likes

I've never been at all convinced that the distinction of first and second (and higher) order properties even makes any sense.

Part of the reason why stems from my nominalism. In my view, only particulars exist, and properties are simply the qualities of those particulars. Properties aren't something separate from material particulars and their (particular) dynamic relations. (And likewise, material particulars and their dynamic relations aren't separate from properties somehow--the idea of that is nonsensical--you can't have a particular without it having qualities, without it being some way or other, and you can't have qualities or being some way or other without something (some particular) that is that way)

So the upshot of that is that "properties having properties" is no different than a particular having properties, since properties ARE identical to particulars and vice versa.

Hence I don't really think that the distinction makes sense..