Abstract
In this paper, two different ontological views concerning biological
species are analyzed. On the first view, species are universals instantiated by
the members of the species, while, according to the second view, species are
complex individuals formed by the members of the species. An alleged decisive
argument in favour of the second view is based on the fact that biological species
evolve, while abstract entities such as universals cannot change. It is shown that
this argument is far from decisive because other kinds of abstract entities such
languages are said to evolve. It is, then, illustrated in which sense we can say that
abstract entities, such as biological species and languages, change.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | From Arithmetic to Metaphysics. A Path through Philosophical Logic |
Pages | 135-150 |
Number of pages | 16 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Abstract entity
- Biological species
- Individual entity
- Ontology