Open AccessComplex Predication and the Metaphysics of Properties
Author(s) -
Pickel Bryan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
dialectica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.483
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1746-8361
pISSN - 0012-2017
DOI - 10.1111/1746-8361.12060
Subject(s) - metaphysics , epistemology , argument (complex analysis) , variety (cybernetics) , simple (philosophy) , base (topology) , distribution (mathematics) , philosophy , complex system , computer science , mathematics , artificial intelligence , chemistry , biochemistry , mathematical analysis
The existence of complex predicates seems to support an abundant conception of properties. Specifically, the application conditions for complex predicates seem to be explained by the distribution of a sparser base of predicates. This explanatory link might suggest that the existence and distribution of properties expressed by complex predicates are explained by the existence and distribution of a sparser base of properties. Thus, complex predicates seem to legitimize the assumption of a wide array of properties. The additional properties are no explanatory addition to the sparse base. I argue, however, that construing complex predicates as expressing properties undermines the explanatory links between simple and complex predications. The argument explores a variety of accounts of complex predicates currently on offer and develops a number of themes from the work of H erbert H ochberg.