LessonsConcepts: Particular and Universal, and Six Cases of UniversalsQuiz

A person may conceive “a mountain of ruby” even without ever encountering such a mountain. Having its meaning in the mind and finding a corresponding thing outside the mind are distinct matters.

Similarly, mentioning an impossible description does not establish an external instance of it. The description can be considered, but existence is a further question requiring evidence.

This matters because universal versus particular is determined by the structure of a meaning, while existence or nonexistence concerns what reality and argument establish.

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Existence in the mind versus outside it

Concepts: Particular and Universal, and Six Cases of Universals

A person may conceive “a mountain of ruby” even without ever encountering such a mountain. Having its meaning in the mind and finding a corresponding thing outside the mind are distinct matters.

Similarly, mentioning an impossible description does not establish an external instance of it. The description can be considered, but existence is a further question requiring evidence.

This matters because universal versus particular is determined by the structure of a meaning, while existence or nonexistence concerns what reality and argument establish.