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    If the theoretical work attributed to abstract objects ca... — Carmelics
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    Supports→Platonism is false

    If the theoretical work attributed to abstract objects can be done by concrete structures or fiction-relative truth, Occam's Razor eliminates the ontological surplus.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Concrete structures (sets, patterns, physical systems) can model mathematical relationships without positing non-physical entities.
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    • 2.Fiction-relative truth (e.g., 'In Sherlock Holmes, Watson is a doctor') explains our truth-attributions without abstract object commitment.
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    • 3.Multiplying entities without necessity violates parsimony; if work gets done without abstracta, their existence adds unjustified surplus.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Concrete structures themselves require abstract properties (composition, cardinality, structure) to do explanatory work—shifting rather than eliminating abstraction.
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    • 2.Fiction-relative truth presupposes abstract objects (propositions, fictional worlds, semantic contents) in its meta-theory, not eliminating them.
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    • 3.Explanatory power, not mere reducibility, determines ontological commitment; if abstracta best explain cognition and mathematics, parsimony favors them.
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    Related

    Concrete structures (sets, patterns, physical systems) can model mathematical re...Concrete structures themselves require abstract properties (composition, cardina...Explanatory power, not mere reducibility, determines ontological commitment; if ...Fiction-relative truth (e.g., 'In Sherlock Holmes, Watson is a doctor') explains...
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    Fiction-relative truth presupposes abstract objects (propositions, fictional wor...Multiplying entities without necessity violates parsimony; if work gets done wit...Platonism is false

    Details

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit