Boethius' Argument Against Universals
A detailed Summary of Boethius' Argument Against Universals
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
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 604
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
Category: English
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