Boethius' Argument Against Universals

A detailed Summary of Boethius' Argument Against Universals

In the essay "From His Second Commentary on Porphyry's Isagoge" Boethius discusses

the existence of universals.. By proposing two main arguments, he first shows why a view

such as that held by Plato (one claiming that universals exist independent of particulars

and that a universal exists wholly in each particular at all times) is false. Then he presents

his own view of the relationship between universals and particulars which is based on the

idea that the universals exist in the collectivity of the particulars.

Boethius' first argument against a Platonic view of universals concerns how a

single universal can exist wholly and entirely in each particular thing to which it is

common. A universal is supposedly one entity existing in every particular to which it is

common at all times. But Boethius argues that if it is to exist wholly

things at one time (and thus is not one in number) then it cannot exist in this Platonic

Boethius tells that in order to exist and remain "one in number," the universal must

to be common in such a way that both the whole of it is in all its singulars, and at one

concept: distinct individual men give the likeness of humanity. Boethius claims this

Boethius finally presents his own understanding of the existence of universals.

many things, it "has a likeness of what is a (universal)." But it is a likeness that is not one

Approximate Word count = 604
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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