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abstract: 'In this paper, I present a polar concept argument for the existence of abstract objects. After recalling the fundamentals concerning the debate about the existence of abstracta, I present in a detailed way the argument for the existence of abstracta. I offer two different variations of the argument: one, deductive and the other, inductive. The argument rests primarily on the fact that our universe is well-balanced. This well-balanced property results from the fact that all instantiable polar dualities are instantiated. Hence, the abstract pole of the abstract/concrete duality must also be exemplified. Lastly, I review several objections that can be raised against the present argument.'
altloc:
  - http://www.univ-corse.fr/~franceschi
chapter: ~
commentary: ~
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creators_id: []
creators_name:
  - family: Franceschi
    given: Paul
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
date: 2003-10
date_type: published
datestamp: 2003-10-10
department: ~
dir: disk0/00/00/32/09
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eprint_status: archive
eprintid: 3209
fileinfo: /style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png;/3209/1/pca%2Den.PDF
full_text_status: public
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keywords: 'abstract objects, abstract/concrete, abstracta, polar opposites, indispensability argument'
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:55:21
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longitude: ~
metadata_visibility: show
note: ~
number: ~
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refereed: TRUE
referencetext: |
  Colyvan, M. (2001) "Indispensability Arguments in the Philosophy of Mathematics", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2001 Edition), E. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2001/entries/mathphil-indis.
  Field, H. (1980) Science Without Numbers: A Defence of Nominalism, Oxford: Blackwell.
  Grayling, A. C. (1995) "Scepticism", Philosophy A guide through the subject, Grayling, G. (ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  Lowe, E. J. (1995) "The Metaphysics of Abstract Objects", Journal of Philosophy 92, 509-24.
  Maddy, P. (1992) "Indispensability and Practice", Journal of Philosophy, 89-6, 275-289.
  Rosen, G. (2001) "Abstract Objects", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2001 Edition), E. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2001/entries/abstract-objects.
  Ross, H. (1995) The Creator and the Cosmos, Colorado: Navpress Colorado Springs.
  Ryle, G. (1960) Dilemmas, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  Soames, S. (1999) Understanding Truth, New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  Sober, E. (1993) "Mathematics and Indispensability", Philosophical Review, 102-1, 35-57.
  Tegmark, M. (2003) "Parallel Universes", to appear in Science and Ultimate Reality: From Quantum to Cosmos, J.D. Barrow, P.C.W. Davies, & C.L. Harper eds., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (2003), at arXiv:astro-ph/0302131 v1 7 Feb 2003.
relation_type: []
relation_uri: []
reportno: ~
rev_number: 10
series: ~
source: ~
status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:49:04
subjects:
  - phil-metaphys
succeeds: 2953
suggestions: 'latest version of #2953'
sword_depositor: ~
sword_slug: ~
thesistype: ~
title: A Polar Concept Argument for the Existence of Abstracta
type: preprint
userid: 2943
volume: ~
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