Essay Example on Metaphysics: Exploring Abstract Objects & Phenomena

Introduction

A metaphysician is a student or specialist in philosophy which deals with abstract concepts and theories of things. Metaphysicians can raise several questions regarding abstract objects:

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• What material or abstract objects exist?
• Is the universe infinite?
• What is the meaning of space-time?

The questions are not only limited to material objects, aiming to study if particular phenomena exist. Metaphysicians may need to know the kind of physical items existing in the world and their location (Pritchard, 2015). The experts may also want to know, if, based on the objects' locations, that is compatible with every person being an agent and acting willingly. There is unlike the response to whether people may be willing to be agents of the objects because one has first to understand how the world should be. The general explanation is that there would be various questions if metaphysicians would start listing the existence of material objects. The discussion will be based on literature works regarding the existence of abstract objects. The work will also enable one to understand the difference between nominalists, factionalist and platonists

Body

Abstract objects are not created from matter; therefore, they are not situated in space and time. Metaphysicians ask if, when listing objects which exist in the universe, people should incorporate items such as shapes, sets, functions, stories, and numbers. Numbers is an example of an abstract object which people apply in different situations such as when doing calculations. Platonists are individuals who trust in the presence of abstract objects, while nominalists do not trust its existence (Pritchard, 2015). Some people might question whether abstract objects exist. Such people would also tend to be nominalists. Platonists would have to explain the reasons for claiming that abstract objects exist.

An individual could claim to be a Platonist because the objects are related to each other, for example, when one adds two plus two. The numerical are both abstract objects incorporated together during calculations. Another example in the sentence 'the cat is lying on another cat.' The sentence could be incorrect since there exist cats, but they did not lay on each other. The sentence could also be incorrect when no cat exists. Platonists allege that '3 + 3 = 6' is factual when three and six exists, including the 'addition' functionality. It is difficult to understand how '3' itself is materialistic, for a while, one can talk of two cats or three kettles, and those are materialistic. After all, one can sum three to itself and get six but cannot sum a cat to itself and get something.

Furthermore, where would one expect to locate three if it was materialistic? Platonists, therefore, conclude that '3 + 3 = 6' could be true when there is the existence of three and a sum function, and performing addition function yields another abstract item. Platonists thus summaries that abstract objects exist because the sentence has been manifestly true as applied by mathematicians.

Nominalists view that there is no existence of such objects. Nominalists claim that there are not aware of '3 + 3 = 6' being true. There is a difficulty when trying to understand the genuinely of the sentence, even though platonists claimed that numbers made the sentence true. Nominalists allege that abstract objects cannot be interacted with, measured, or seen; thus, one cannot learn about their existence in the first place. People would, consecutively, not come to learn that summing three to three equaled six (Pritchard, 2015).

There is one popular type of nominalism, referred to as fictionalism, which argues that the mathematical assertion is a narrative or story. There is truth to some narrative claims, like Harry Potter is a wizard. The claim could not be true in the real sense but the story. Factionalists perceive that 'Harry Potter being a wizard' is similar to '3 + 3 = 6'. The thought is that there exists a complicated and long narrative in mathematics, certain claims being false while other true. People would be tempted to state that '3 + 3 = 6' because they tacitly presume that they are assessing those claims mathematics' story. The statement is indeed factual within the story but strictly speaking incorrect. The statement is false in an actual sense because numbers do not exist in the same manner that 'Harry Potter being a wizard' does not exist. Platonists and factionalists agree that there has to be an existence of abstract objects for claims like the addition of numbers and the result to make sense. The two groups, however, disagree about if they exist

Properties

One can inquire whether there are properties in metaphysics. Understanding the meaning of properties is foundational since other philosophical disciplines assume that properties exist. Properties fall under abstract objects (Pritchard, 2015). There are several opinions regarding properties; namely universals and tropes. Universals lack existence either in time or space like other abstract objects. Objects have universal properties; for example, if a chair and shoe are both blacks in color. Objects in time and space have certain properties by instantiating appropriate universals. A jumper and dog could both instantiate the same universal by being black; thus share similar properties. Blackness can exist in various locations if instantiated by distinctive objects. Properties are distinctive from objects because the latter are not replicable; being present at one region at a time.

Indispensability Arguments

The problem with the indispensability argument is that there is a mere portrayal of belief among humans and not ideally true (Pritchard, 2015). For instance, even if science fundamentally applies mathematics and mathematical items are abstract, that only portrays the need to believe and act like they are non-physical. Abstract objects, perhaps, could be that there are restrictions towards believing that science centers on mathematics. The arguments laid by both platonists and nominalists should have proof and not be just mere beliefs.

Conclusion

There is a comparison when one looks into nominalist's claims regarding physical objects, for example, the dog sitting on the doorstep. The rational favoring nominalism includes the notion that people encounter material objects through experience. The case does not apply when adding two numbers; one cannot ascertain the result while incorporating abstract commodities (Pritchard, 2015). There is, therefore, need for Platonists to explain further their ideas even though they defend themselves with the view that science has to be analyzed with mathematics. Platonists' views could mean that mathematical concepts and terms are abstract objects if they are factual thoughts. The notion is that mathematics is a domain that portrays narrative truth. The problem arises when one wants to understand what makes sentences such as ' 3 +3 = 6' true. Nominalists fail to assert the reasons people mathematics during their daily activities.

Work Cited

Pritchard, Duncan. What is this thing called Philosophy? Routledge, 2015. https://www.book2look.com/book/zGDGSGyXe4