Question

What I mean by an abstraction is a single thought that abstracts or stands for many objects, like something blue. This stands for anything that is colored blue. What I mean by a property is something that objects have, like blueness.

Clearly something blue is closely related to blueness but are they different things or is the only difference linguistic? Are these just two ways to refer to the same content of thought or are they legitimately different contents of thought?

On the one hand, my thought seems to follow the linguistic pattern. When I think of something blue, I'm thinking of some abstract object which can stand in for any one of many objects. When I'm thinking of blueness, there seems to be no object behind it, just the vague notion of a blue surface.

On the other hand, it seems difficult to isolate a specific difference that stands up to critical examination. A blue surface is, after all, something blue, and it is impossible to imagine blueness without a surface.

Answer 1

An abstraction represents multiple objects, while a property is a characteristic that objects possess. The difference between something blue and blueness lies in their representations of multiple objects and the characteristics possessed by those objects.

Step-by-step explanation:

An abstraction and a property are related but have distinct meanings in the realm of thought. An abstraction is a general concept that represents multiple objects, while a property is a characteristic that objects possess. For example, 'something blue' is an abstraction because it represents anything that is colored blue, while 'blueness' is a property because it refers to the specific characteristic of being blue.

The difference between an abstraction and a property is not solely linguistic. When thinking of something blue, there is an abstract object that represents multiple blue objects. In contrast, blueness does not have a specific object behind it; it represents the vague notion of a blue surface.

While a blue surface is something blue, it is difficult to isolate a specific difference that stands up to critical examination. In essence, the conceptual difference between something blue and blueness lies in their respective representations of multiple objects and the characteristics possessed by those objects.