Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants

An Ontology of Ideas

Department

Philosophy Department

College

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Date Range

2013-2014

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Philosophers often talk about and engage with ideas. Scientists, artists, and historians do, too. So does practically everyone else. But what is an idea? In this paper, I offer an ontology of ideas. First, I discuss various criteria that any adequate ontology of ideas should satisfy. Next, I offer and motivate a novel ontology of ideas that satisfies these criteria and trace out some of its theoretical virtues. Finally, I further explore some of the nuances and implications of this account, focusing in particular on the individuation and diachronic identities of ideas.

Conference Name

South Carolina Society for Philosophers

Conference Location

Furman University, South Carolina

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