Theo Todman's Web Page - Paper Abstracts

Philosophers Index Abstract

This paper summarizes and extends the transmodal¹ argument for the existence of universals² (developed in full detail in "Universals³"). This argument establishes not only the existence of universals⁴, but also that they exist necessarily, thereby confirming the ante rem view against the post rem and in re views (and also anti-existentialism against existentialism). Once summarized, the argument is extended to refute the trope theory of properties and is also shown to succeed even if possibilism is assumed. A nonreductionist theory of universals⁵ and properties is then outlined, and it is sketched how to reap the benefits of possibilism and Meinongianism in an actualist setting.