Intrinsic or Subjectic…
Estudia: Now, Philo, I think I understand the Objectivist theory of concepts fairly well. Are there any other theories and what do they imply?
Philo: Oh yes, definitely. There are completely opposite theories that have come down to us through the ages. The three major theories are Platonic realism, Aristotelian realism, and nominalism.
Estudia: That would be from Plato, Aristotle and who?
Philo: Nominalism was developed by a bunch of skeptic philosophers like Protagoras, Hume, Dewey and Wittgenstein. In this view every object that exists is unique. The members of a group that will form the concept have nothing the same to unite them and thus no metaphysical basis to classify them. The things in a group do have a rough similarity that links some particulars so it’s useful to group various items under a single name. The nominalist says there really aren’t any facts that require a particular grouping, no objectively correct way of forming concepts. People just decide how to do this and create any concepts they think useful.
Estudia: So these nominalists believe that concepts are inside of us and are just arbitrary linguistic creations.
Philo: Yes, exactly, the nominalists are “subjectivists” in that they teach that concepts represent things grouped in your consciousness apart from existence.
Estudia: What about the Platonic and Aristotelian theories?
Philo: Plato believed that concepts were referring to some real thing that was other-worldly or not directly perceivable universals which he called Forms. Things like animalness, table- or chair-hood which exist independent of the consciousness of man and of any real existent.
Estudia: And this is called “realism”?
Philo: Yes, because abstractions are seen as part of reality and outside of or external to the mind. Plato actually taught that we remember entities from a previous life and that is how we acquire the truth of what a concept represents.
Estudia: Seriously? You’re joking right? Is this Pluto, not Plato?
Philo: Negative. Read Plato and weep. He thought that we don’t have to think at all but let our minds remain still, guru-like, and we will receive the truth like a match lit in a cave reveals the art-work on the wall.
Philo: Oh yes, definitely. There are completely opposite theories that have come down to us through the ages. The three major theories are Platonic realism, Aristotelian realism, and nominalism.
Estudia: That would be from Plato, Aristotle and who?
Philo: Nominalism was developed by a bunch of skeptic philosophers like Protagoras, Hume, Dewey and Wittgenstein. In this view every object that exists is unique. The members of a group that will form the concept have nothing the same to unite them and thus no metaphysical basis to classify them. The things in a group do have a rough similarity that links some particulars so it’s useful to group various items under a single name. The nominalist says there really aren’t any facts that require a particular grouping, no objectively correct way of forming concepts. People just decide how to do this and create any concepts they think useful.
Estudia: So these nominalists believe that concepts are inside of us and are just arbitrary linguistic creations.
Philo: Yes, exactly, the nominalists are “subjectivists” in that they teach that concepts represent things grouped in your consciousness apart from existence.
Estudia: What about the Platonic and Aristotelian theories?
Philo: Plato believed that concepts were referring to some real thing that was other-worldly or not directly perceivable universals which he called Forms. Things like animalness, table- or chair-hood which exist independent of the consciousness of man and of any real existent.
Estudia: And this is called “realism”?
Philo: Yes, because abstractions are seen as part of reality and outside of or external to the mind. Plato actually taught that we remember entities from a previous life and that is how we acquire the truth of what a concept represents.
Estudia: Seriously? You’re joking right? Is this Pluto, not Plato?
Philo: Negative. Read Plato and weep. He thought that we don’t have to think at all but let our minds remain still, guru-like, and we will receive the truth like a match lit in a cave reveals the art-work on the wall.
posted by Rp | 9:44 PM
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