> On Mar 27, 2017, at 11:37 AM, Jerry LR Chandler > <jerry_lr_chand...@icloud.com> wrote: > > This idea of the mathematics and forms of possibility was articulated already > by Francis Bacon 1561-1626. see the writings of Graham Rees. (Including > Marriage of Physics and Mathematics.)
Right, it’s not that uncommon an idea. To my eyes the main issue is the realism vs. nominalism issue both in terms of the nature of possibilities as well as the relationship of individuals to generals. That’s why that Fraser review from 1871 is interesting as he does get right at the nominalist/realist issues. Now going back to our discussion of realism a few months ago it’s worth asking what the cash value or realism vs. nominalism is. Despite it being such a focus for Peirce I’m not sure it entails that much difference - particularly with possibilities. Where it does matter is more in Peirce’s cosmology where you have possibilities becoming actualities along more or less neoplatonic lines. That is the issue ultimately is one of a thoroughgoing modal realism more like platonism than even Hegelianism. (Despite that it’s often to Hegel that Peirce is compared and contrasted)
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