In Defence of Tropes as Abstract Particulars

Presenter: Anthony Fisher (University of Manchester)

Trope theory is a leading metaphysical theory in analytic ontology. However, trope theorists disagree about the precise content of the concept of a trope. Classical trope theorists say that tropes are abstract particulars. Modern trope theorists argue that tropes are not abstract. Tropes, on their view, are particularised properties. In this paper I defend classical trope theory by rejecting arguments that purport to show that tropes should not be understood as abstract and by arguing that tropes should be understood as abstract in order to uphold our best trope-theoretic analysis of universals and concrete objects.