I 49
Quantities/Quantity/Bigelow/Pargetter: with quantities we are going to refer to the core area of metaphysics.
>
Metaphysics.
Universals/Bigelow/Pargetter: universals emerge from the confrontation that certain things can be something and something else at the same time. That is only a superficial contradiction.
>
Universals.
Quantity/Bigelow/Pargetter: Example:
a) two things are equal by both having a mass.
b) they differ at the same time because they have different masses.
Quantities/Plato/Bigelow/Pargetter: Problem: if properties are something that a thing can either have or not have, there is a problem of quantities.
>
Properties, >
Problem of quantities.
Solution/Plato: Participation in forms. This allows a gradual treatment.
>
Methexis.
Bigelow: We are a moving a little away from Plato.
Quantity/Plato/Bigelow/Pargetter: Solutions of this kind have in common that they postulate an entity and vary the relation between this entity and the individuals who own it.
I 50
The entity explains what individuals have in common. The relation explains the different degrees.
>
Relations.
Nominalism/Berkeley/Bigelow/Pargetter: this is Berkeley's nominalism: a platonic, abstract form is replaced by a special individual, a "paradigm". (Terminology).
>
Nominalism.
Commonality: individuals have commonality when they resemble the same paradigm.
Similarity: is, of course, also gradual, like gradual participation in forms in Plato.
>
Similarity.
Berkeley/Plato/Bigelow/Pargetter: the theories are quite similar: they explain how properties can be gradual.
>
Plato, >
G. Berkeley.
Quantities/Bigelow/Pargetter: this does not solve the general problem of quantities (that they are gradual).
Problem: Degrees of a relation.
>
Degrees/graduals.
Solution: Similarity and participation are an attempt.
Forms/Plato/Bigelow/Pargetter: we do not claim that his theory of forms is wrong.
BigelowVsPlato: it does not solve the problem of quantities. (The nature of quantity).
>
Forms.
I 264
Quantities/Possible Worlds/Bigelow/Pargetter: Question: What should we allow as basic equipment? Forces, for sure. Thesis: there are essential connections between fundamental forces and the fundamental causal relation.
Causality/Bigelow/Pargetter: must therefore also be part of the basic equipment of our world.
>
Forces, >
Causality, >
Ontology.