Transcendent Universals and Natural Laws
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Date
2020
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Abstract
One of the theoretical functions attributed to universals is to work as natural laws – or, at least, to be something on which natural laws are dependent. It is argued in this chapter that only transcendent universals can satisfy this theoretical function. Transcendent universals have been postulated as constituents of natural laws since 1977 by Michael Tooley. The cases presented by Tooley are discussed and generalized. Functional laws are not of use for Aristotelians to explain those cases. On the contrary, functional laws are an additional reason to postulate Platonic universals. Finally, it is considered whether there is a unique nomic structure invariant through all possible worlds.
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Primitive facts of resemblance, Inductive practices, Resemblance classes of module tropes, Modal metaphysics, Objections against transcendent universals, Transcendent universals, Neo-Platonism