Physical. It's one of the 4 fundamental forces. — Michael
Well, there's the question you asked of me; what does it even mean for an abstract object to exist (as some mind-independent thing)? — Michael
an abstract exists if there could exist material things that act according to it. — khaled
If so, replace A with "boiling point" and B with "the temperature at which something boils" and you get "the boiling point (a property) exists"
That light being within a certin range
OK, then is there a difference between spin being real and a top really being able to spin? — Michael
Could you clarify your point? — frank
The Platonist might say that height is real iff height is a mind-independent abstract object. — Michael
Your question for NOS4A2 should be "is an electron's spin a mind-independent abstract object?" rather than the ambiguous "is an electron's spin real?" — Michael
I'm sure you realize stones don't have any weight in outer space. By your account, the nominalist is pretty confused.
Instead the nominalist can focus on what has changed and come closer to accuracy in describing states of affairs. — NOS4A2
There is a Russian political philosopher known as “Putin’s brain”, Alexander Dugin, who claims that the advent of nominalism is the precursor to liberalism, and thus represents the inherent danger of The West. — NOS4A2
He claims that it serves to destroy notions such as community and family and has led to the worst kind of individualism. — NOS4A2
That is a non-sequitor. Just because it varies with another value doesn't mean it doesn't exist. — khaled
. I cannot put any value into abstract objects and universals when I cannot believe in them. — NOS4A2
We’re not talking about any particular liquid here so it’s entirely a product of the mind. — NOS4A2
"Sir, there is a sum of money you must pay to the government called taxes"
"Aha! But this sum of money changes for different people at different times in their life! Therefore there is no sum of money I must pay to the government called taxes! Taxes aren't real!"
. — khaled
If only it was that easy. — khaled
It’s fascinating that these ancient philosophical quandaries will forever reappear. — NOS4A2
Do you identify yourself as the brain, or some other internal locus? I ask because I can see such a belief orientating a person towards a belief in the reality of abstract objects, universals, representations and the like. — NOS4A2
if you were to describe the condition of any given liquid, do you believe the liquid possesses something called a “condition” by virtue of using such possessive language? — NOS4A2
You’re just describing the state of the liquid. — NOS4A2
If so, which is wet? the condition or the liquid? — NOS4A2
No, you cannot change the capabilities of a given liquid by thinking about it. But you can imagine different values in its properties and get a fairly accurate idea of what it will do in that state. — NOS4A2
That's right, because it's arbitrary. — Metaphysician Undercover
You're wrong here though, it's not easy, but more difficult. The easy way is to just give in to what they say, give them what they ask for. The more difficult way is to find all the deductions you are eligible for, and reduce that amount of taxation. — Metaphysician Undercover
Taxes aren't real!"
.
— khaled
That's right — Metaphysician Undercover
there is no such thing as "the temperature at which something boils" — Metaphysician Undercover
And yet taxes exist.... — khaled
My point is simple. The amount you have to pay in tax varies a lot. And yet taxes exist. Hence just because the value of it varies does not mean the thing does not exist.
Same with gravitational force. Gravitational force exists even though the gravitional force changes based on distance. — khaled
So what? Boiling water exists too. But that wasn't your claim — Metaphysician Undercover
So the existence of gravity — Metaphysician Undercover
But I didn't say the existence of gravity. I said "gravitational force". Specifically because it is also a value that varies with a lot of factors. But it exists. — khaled
But by your logic, since the gravitational force depends on distance, and the mass of the two objects, it doesn't exist. — khaled
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